President Andrew Johnson

1860

Andrew Johnson (1808–1875) was the 17th president of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869. Born in North Carolina to a poor family, he later settled in Tennessee and became a tailor before entering politics. He served as a congressman, governor, and U.S. senator, gaining a reputation as a strong advocate for the common man and states' rights.

Johnson was Abraham Lincoln’s vice president and assumed the presidency after Lincoln’s assassination in April 1865. As president, he led the country through the early years of Reconstruction but clashed with Congress over how to reintegrate the Southern states and protect the rights of formerly enslaved people. His lenient policies toward the former Confederacy and opposition to civil rights legislation led to fierce opposition from Radical Republicans.

In 1868, Johnson became the first U.S. president to be impeached by the House of Representatives, though he was acquitted in the Senate by a single vote. After his presidency, he returned to Tennessee and briefly served in the U.S. Senate before his death in 1875. His legacy remains controversial due to his resistance to racial equality and Reconstruction efforts.