Andrew Johnson Evaluation

Andrew Johnson

1. Andrew Johnson (12-29-1808 - 7-31-1875)

2. No College, Military

3. 1 term in office (4-15-1865 - 3-3-1869)

4. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated

5. none

6. No vice president

7. Democratic

8. Domestic Happenings

a. Andrew Johnson becomes president (1865)-

b. Beginning of the Johnson Reconstruction Era (1865)- a period of rebuilding after the war, importantly reconstruction of the union 2 represents political & legal process of rejoining the states and still continued with political fighting an attempt to bring the south back into the U.S

c. 13th amendment ratified (1865)- this amendment freed all slaves without compensation to the slave-owners. it legally forbade slavery in the U.S.

d. Civil Rights Act (passed over Johnson's veto) (1866)- in 1866 the civil rights act was created to grant citizenship to blacks and it was an attempt to prohibit the black codes. It also prohibited racial discrimination on jury selection. The civil rights act was not really enforced and was really just a political move used to attract more votes. it led to the creation and passing of the 14th amendment.

e. First Reconstruction Act (1867)- an act that called for creation of new governments in the 10 southern states that hadn't ratified the fourteenth amendment, this act also divided the south into 10 military districts until they formed new governments.

f. Tenure of Office Act and Command of the Army Act (1867)- enacted by radical congress, it forbade the president from removing civil officers without consent of the senate. It was meant to prevent Johnson from removing radicals from office. The Command of the Army Act made the commanding general rather than President the effective head of the army.

g. 14th Amendment Ratified (1868)- this amendment declared that all persons born or naturalized in the united states were entitled equal rights regardless of their race, and that their rights were protected at both the state and national levels.

9. Major Foreign Policies

a. Maximilian Affair in Mexico (1865)- Mexican president Benito Juarez stopped making payments on foreign debt; France, Spain and Great Britain tried to recover money; France set up puppet regime-archduke made emperor of Mexico. U.S. warned violation of Monroe doctrine and forced French withdrawal.

b. Purchase of Alaska (1867)- the U.S. offered to take Alaska from Russia. Russia was eager to give it up, as the fur resources had been exhausted, and, expecting friction with Great Britain, they preferred to see defenseless Alaska in U.S. hands. Called "Seward's folly" and "Seward's icebox", the purchase was made in 1867 for $7,200,000 and gave the U.S. Alaska's resources of fish, timber, oil and gold.

10. Major Conflict

a. Impeachment and Trial of Andrew Johnson (1867)- Johnson was impeached for the charge of high crimes and misdemeanors on February 24, 1868 of which one of the articles of impeachment was violating the tenure