Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson – Life, Presidency, and Legacy

Explore the complex life and presidency of Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States. Learn about his rise from poverty, his role in post–Civil War Reconstruction, his impeachment, and his enduring historical legacy.

Introduction

Andrew Johnson (December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875) was the 17th President of the United States (1865–1869), succeeding Abraham Lincoln after his assassination. Johnson, a self-made man who rose from tailor to president, presided over one of the most turbulent periods in American history — Reconstruction.

His presidency was marked by bitter conflict with Congress over how to reunite the nation and rebuild the South after the Civil War. Johnson’s lenient policies toward the former Confederate states and his opposition to civil rights for freed slaves led to his impeachment — the first in U.S. history — though he was narrowly acquitted.

A man of contradictions, Johnson was both a defender of the Union and a fierce opponent of elite privilege, yet he also held deeply racist views that undermined his leadership. His life remains a story of ambition, resilience, and controversy.

Early Life and Family

Andrew Johnson was born on December 29, 1808, in Raleigh, North Carolina, to Jacob Johnson and Mary McDonough Johnson, both of humble means. His father, a sexton and porter, died when Andrew was only three, leaving the family in poverty. His mother worked as a laundress and seamstress to make ends meet.

Johnson never received formal schooling and was illiterate until his teenage years. At age 14, he was apprenticed to a tailor in Raleigh, where he learned the trade that would sustain him throughout his early life.

In 1826, seeking greater opportunity, Johnson fled his apprenticeship and settled in Greeneville, Tennessee, where he opened his own tailor shop. There he married Eliza McCardle in 1827. Eliza, who was better educated, taught Johnson reading, writing, and arithmetic, supporting his self-education and political ambitions. They had five children.

His tailoring shop became a gathering place for locals to discuss politics — a setting that helped him discover his gift for public speaking and debate.

Early Political Career

Rise in Tennessee Politics

Johnson’s political journey began with local office. He served as alderman and mayor of Greeneville (1830–1838) before moving on to state politics as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives and later the State Senate.

He identified strongly with Jacksonian democracy, championing the “common man” and opposing wealthy elites, banks, and aristocratic privilege.

In 1843, Johnson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served five consecutive terms (1843–1853). He supported expansionist policies, states’ rights, and opposed federal spending that benefited industrial or financial elites.

After serving in Congress, Johnson was elected Governor of Tennessee (1853–1857), and later as U.S. Senator (1857–1862).

Civil War and Union Loyalty

Although Johnson was a Southern Democrat and a slaveholder, he remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War — a stance that distinguished him from most Southern politicians.

When Tennessee seceded in 1861, Johnson was the only Southern senator to refuse resignation. His defiance earned him national recognition and support from Northern Unionists. President Abraham Lincoln rewarded his loyalty by appointing him Military Governor of Tennessee in 1862.

Johnson used this role to enforce martial law, punish secessionists, and work toward Tennessee’s restoration to the Union.

Vice Presidency and Assassination of Lincoln

In 1864, Lincoln sought to unify Northern Democrats and Republicans behind a “National Union” ticket for re-election. Johnson, a Democrat from the South who supported the Union, was selected as Vice President.

Johnson’s inauguration as vice president was controversial — he reportedly drank heavily beforehand, and his slurred, erratic speech shocked attendees.

Just six weeks later, on April 14, 1865, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. The next morning, April 15, Andrew Johnson was sworn in as the 17th President of the United States.

Presidency (1865–1869)

Reconstruction and Policy Conflicts

Johnson inherited the monumental task of rebuilding the nation after four years of civil war. Initially, many hoped he would follow Lincoln’s moderate path, but Johnson’s policies soon revealed a more lenient and divisive approach.

He implemented a Presidential Reconstruction plan that offered quick readmission to Southern states if they:

• Swore allegiance to the Union

• Accepted the abolition of slavery (13th Amendment)

However, Johnson allowed former Confederate leaders to regain political power and vetoed congressional efforts to protect freedmen’s rights. He opposed the Freedmen’s Bureau Bill and the Civil Rights Act of 1866, arguing they infringed on states’ rights.

His repeated vetoes alienated the Radical Republicans, who sought a more transformative Reconstruction. Congress overrode his vetoes — a rare and humiliating rebuke to presidential authority.

The Fourteenth Amendment and Opposition

Johnson opposed the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship and equal protection to formerly enslaved people. He campaigned against it, urging Southern states to reject ratification — which they did initially.

His defiance led Congress to take over Reconstruction entirely, passing the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, which placed the South under military rule until they complied with constitutional reforms.

Impeachment Crisis

Tensions climaxed when Johnson violated the Tenure of Office Act, which required Senate approval to remove certain officeholders. In February 1868, he dismissed Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, a Radical Republican ally.

The House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson, charging him with 11 articles of impeachment.

In the Senate trial, Johnson survived by one vote — 35 senators voted for conviction, one short of the two-thirds needed.

Though he remained in office, his power was crippled for the remainder of his term.

Later Life and Death

After leaving office in 1869, Johnson attempted several political comebacks. He ran unsuccessfully for the Senate and House before finally winning election to the U.S. Senate in 1875 — becoming the only former president to do so.

His return to Washington was short-lived; Johnson died on July 31, 1875, from a stroke at age 66, while visiting his daughter in Carter County, Tennessee.

He was buried wrapped in an American flag, with a copy of the U.S. Constitution under his head — symbols of his lifelong devotion to the Union.

Historical Milestones & Context

• 1808: Born in Raleigh, North Carolina.

• 1827: Married Eliza McCardle; began his tailoring business.

• 1843–1853: Served in the U.S. House of Representatives.

• 1862: Appointed Military Governor of Tennessee.

• 1864: Elected Vice President on Lincoln’s National Union ticket.

• 1865: Became President after Lincoln’s assassination.

• 1868: Impeached but acquitted by one vote.

• 1875: Returned to Senate; died later that year.

Personality and Talents

Andrew Johnson’s character combined remarkable perseverance with deep stubbornness:

• Self-made intellect: A product of self-education, Johnson was eloquent, hardworking, and fiercely independent.

• Populist tone: He appealed to working-class Americans and distrusted elites.

• Stubborn and combative: His unwillingness to compromise often deepened political crises.

• Contradictory beliefs: A Union loyalist who nonetheless opposed racial equality.

Famous Quotes of Andrew Johnson

1. “Honest conviction is my courage; the Constitution is my guide.”
   – Reflecting his rigid constitutionalism

2. “If the rabble were lopped off at one end and the aristocrats at the other, all would be well with the country.”
   – Expressing his populist disdain for social extremes

3. “I feel incompetent to perform duties so important and responsible as those which have been so unexpectedly thrown upon me.”
   – His reaction upon becoming President after Lincoln’s death

4. “The goal to strive for is a poor government but a rich people.”
   – On fiscal restraint and national prosperity

5. “There are no good or bad races; only good or bad individuals.”
   – A quote that contrasts sharply with many of his later actions and attitudes

Lessons from Andrew Johnson

1. Leadership requires empathy as well as conviction.
   Johnson’s rigid adherence to states’ rights undermined efforts to secure justice for freed slaves.

2. Compromise can prevent crisis.
   His refusal to collaborate with Congress deepened division and led to impeachment.

3. Origins do not define destiny.
   Rising from illiteracy to the presidency, Johnson embodied self-made American success.

4. Moral clarity must guide political power.
   His failure to embrace equality remains a cautionary tale in leadership ethics.

5. History judges contextually.
   While once vilified, modern historians also recognize his administrative challenges amid postwar chaos.

Conclusion

Andrew Johnson’s life is one of the most dramatic arcs in American political history — from orphaned tailor to President of the United States. His legacy, however, remains shadowed by his opposition to civil rights and his obstruction of Reconstruction.

Yet Johnson’s rise from poverty to power represents the possibilities of self-made success in America’s early democracy. His story reminds us that leadership, without moral vision and empathy, can turn historic opportunity into national discord.

“I may fail, but let it never be said of me that I failed to try.” — Andrew Johnson