nbaschedule2012now.net – Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, occupies a unique and often controversial position in American history. He is frequently remembered for his controversial stance on Reconstruction, his bitter conflict with Congress, and his impeachment—the first in U.S. history. Despite the tumult of his presidency, Johnson’s legacy as a champion of states’ rights and Union restoration is a significant, albeit contentious, part of his political identity.
Johnson’s life story and political career are deeply entwined with the Civil War, the end of slavery, and the contentious debates over how the Southern states should be reintegrated into the Union following their defeat in the war. His views on these issues, and his vision for postwar America, reveal the tension between the federal government’s power and the rights of individual states—a tension that would define much of his presidency. In many ways, Andrew Johnson was a man caught between two worlds, holding firm to the idea of a restored Union, while at the same time, staunchly defending states’ rights in ways that placed him at odds with much of the political leadership of his time.
This article will examine Johnson’s life, his approach to Reconstruction, and his view of states’ rights—as well as the legacy of his presidency in shaping the political and social landscape of post-Civil War America.
The Early Life and Political Rise of Andrew Johnson
A Humble Beginning
Andrew Johnson was born on December 29, 1808, in Raleigh, North Carolina, into a poor family. His father died when he was young, and his mother struggled to provide for her children. As a result, Johnson had very little formal education and worked as a tailor’s apprentice in his youth. His humble beginnings would later become a significant aspect of his political identity, shaping his worldview and approach to governance.
Despite his lack of education, Johnson was deeply interested in politics, and he entered public life by first working as a tailor before moving on to local politics in Tennessee. Over time, Johnson rose through the political ranks, first serving as a city alderman, then as mayor of Greeneville, Tennessee, and eventually as a state legislator and governor.
Johnson’s political philosophy was shaped by his belief in economic self-sufficiency and individual liberty, both of which were important themes for many working-class voters in the South. His early political success came from his identification with the common man and his advocacy for states’ rights, particularly the rights of the South. He also built his political identity around his staunch Unionism during a time when many Southerners were advocating for secession.
A Unionist in a Divided South
When the Civil War erupted in 1861, Johnson’s political loyalties were put to the test. Although he was from the South, Johnson was a fervent Unionist. He vehemently opposed the South’s decision to secede from the Union and believed that the Southern states should remain part of the United States. In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln appointed him as the military governor of Tennessee. In this role, Johnson led the effort to restore Union control over Tennessee, which had been one of the first states to secede. His leadership in Tennessee earned him recognition and respect among Unionists.
Despite his loyalty to the Union, Johnson never abandoned his belief in states’ rights. He viewed the federal government as a necessary force for preserving the Union, but he was also a strong advocate for the rights of states to govern themselves without excessive interference from Washington, D.C.
Johnson’s staunch Unionism, combined with his Southern roots, made him a natural choice for vice president under Abraham Lincoln in the 1864 election. Lincoln’s decision to select Johnson as his running mate was a political strategy aimed at appealing to both Unionists in the North and Union-sympathetic Southerners. Johnson’s appointment as vice president was seen as a unifying gesture to bring the country together during the final years of the Civil War.
Johnson’s Presidency: A Champion of States’ Rights
The Assassination of Lincoln and Johnson’s Ascension to Power
On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Johnson, who had been sworn in as vice president just a few months earlier, ascended to the presidency at a time when the nation was still reeling from the effects of the Civil War. His inauguration came just days after the Confederacy’s surrender, and the nation faced the monumental task of rebuilding the South and reuniting a fractured nation.
Johnson’s approach to the nation’s postwar recovery would be defined by his strong belief in the autonomy of the Southern states and his conviction that the Union should be restored as quickly and smoothly as possible. His lenient approach to Reconstruction, which sought to return the Southern states to the Union without significant changes to their social and political structures, set the stage for intense conflict with Congress.
Johnson’s Vision for Reconstruction
Johnson’s vision for Reconstruction was grounded in his belief that the Southern states had never truly left the Union. In his view, secession was an illegal act, but the states’ membership in the Union remained intact. As a result, he believed the Southern states should be allowed to rejoin the Union with minimal conditions. Johnson issued a Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction in May 1865, which offered pardons to most former Confederates who took an oath of loyalty to the Union. Johnson also allowed Southern states to hold constitutional conventions and re-establish their governments without much interference from the federal government.
For Johnson, the central goal of Reconstruction was the restoration of the Union, rather than the reformation of Southern society. Johnson did not believe in granting African Americans full civil rights or suffrage, and he opposed efforts by Congress to secure these rights. He was particularly opposed to the Radical Republicans in Congress, who sought to transform Southern society by granting rights to freedmen and restructuring the South’s political and social systems.
In Johnson’s view, Reconstruction was about reconciliation, not retribution. He believed that the Southern states should be treated leniently and allowed to re-enter the Union without facing harsh penalties or restrictions. This philosophy was informed by his strong belief in states’ rights—the idea that each state had the right to determine its own political and social future without interference from the federal government.
The Radical Republican Response and the Growing Conflict
Johnson’s lenient approach to Reconstruction was deeply unpopular with many Republicans, particularly the Radical Republicans. Led by figures like Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner, the Radical Republicans believed that the South should be fundamentally transformed after the war. They were committed to ensuring that African Americans were granted full civil rights and that the Southern states were prevented from re-establishing the old order of slavery and racial inequality.
The conflict between Johnson and the Radical Republicans intensified in 1866, when Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which aimed to provide African Americans with citizenship and equal protection under the law. Johnson’s veto was overridden by Congress, a historic moment that signaled the growing dominance of the legislative branch over the executive.
In 1867, Congress passed the Military Reconstruction Act, which divided the South into military districts and imposed military rule to enforce new constitutional conventions in the Southern states. Johnson strongly opposed this act, as it represented a significant expansion of federal power into the states. He believed that the federal government had no right to impose such strict measures on the Southern states, which he considered to be self-governing entities.
The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
Johnson’s continued opposition to Congressional Reconstruction led to a dramatic showdown with Congress. In 1868, Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act, which prohibited the president from removing certain officeholders without the Senate’s consent. Johnson’s attempt to remove Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary of War, led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives. The Senate narrowly acquitted Johnson, but the political damage to his presidency was already done.
Although Johnson’s impeachment was not successful, it underscored the growing divide between the executive and legislative branches over the direction of Reconstruction. Johnson’s steadfast defense of states’ rights and his belief in the limited role of the federal government in the South clashed with the Radical Republicans’ vision for a fundamental transformation of the Southern political landscape.
Legacy of Andrew Johnson: States’ Rights and the Struggle for Reconstruction
Andrew Johnson’s presidency left a complex legacy. While he succeeded in restoring the Union relatively quickly, his approach to Reconstruction did not lead to the profound changes in Southern society that many believed were necessary. His advocacy for states’ rights and his lenient policies toward the South allowed former Confederates to regain power in the Southern states and pass restrictive Black Codes that limited the rights of African Americans. His refusal to support civil rights for freedmen and his opposition to Congressional efforts to provide those rights left a deep and lasting mark on the postwar South.
Johnson’s presidency was also marked by his combative relationship with Congress, which led to the historic impeachment trial. Although he survived impeachment, Johnson’s political power was greatly diminished by the outcome of the trial. In the long run, the Radical Republicans prevailed in their efforts to reshape the South, particularly through the 14th and 15th Amendments, which guaranteed equal protection under the law and voting rights for African Americans.
Andrew Johnson’s legacy is a reminder of the intense struggles of the Reconstruction era. His steadfast belief in states’ rights, along with his commitment to the rapid restoration of the Union, placed him at odds with those who sought to transform the South into a more racially egalitarian society. While his vision of a restored Union was realized, the full promise of Reconstruction—particularly the protection of African American rights—remained elusive during his presidency.
In the end, Andrew Johnson’s time in office reveals the tension between the ideals of Union restoration and the struggle for racial equality in the postwar United States. His presidency continues to be a subject of historical debate, as his actions shaped the trajectory of Reconstruction and the nation’s evolution toward a more inclusive society.