Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States, served from 1865 to 1869 during one of the most turbulent periods in American history.
Elevated to the presidency after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Johnson faced the monumental task of leading a divided nation through Reconstruction following the Civil War.
His leadership was marked by controversy, as he sought to reunite the country while resisting efforts to expand civil rights for freed African Americans. Johnson’s legacy remains complex—while he is remembered for his loyalty to the Union, his presidency is often criticized for its leniency toward the South and opposition to progressive policies.
The following facts explore key events, challenges, and decisions that defined Johnson’s life and political career.
Andrew Johnson Facts
1. Became President After Lincoln’s Assassination.
Andrew Johnson assumed the presidency on April 15, 1865, following the shocking assassination of Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre by John Wilkes Booth. At the time, Johnson had only been vice president for a little over a month, having been inaugurated on March 4, 1865.
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His unexpected rise to the presidency placed him in charge of a deeply divided nation at a critical moment in its history. With the Civil War ending, Johnson’s role became essential in determining the fate of the Southern states and newly emancipated African Americans.
However, his approach to post-war Reconstruction would soon bring about significant conflict with Congress.
2. Only Southern Senator to Stay Loyal to the Union.
Andrew Johnson was born into a poor family in North Carolina and built his political career in Tennessee, a Confederate state. When the Southern states seceded from the Union in 1860-61, most Southern politicians resigned from their positions in the federal government to join the Confederacy.
Also Read: Accomplishments of Andrew Johnson
Johnson, however, remained loyal to the Union despite immense pressure to follow the Confederate cause. His decision made him a hero among pro-Union Northerners and earned him the respect of President Lincoln. This loyalty was a key reason Lincoln selected him as his running mate in 1864, hoping Johnson’s presence would help unify war-torn America.
3. Did Not Receive Formal Education.
Unlike most American presidents, Andrew Johnson did not have a formal education. He grew up in poverty and was apprenticed as a tailor at a young age to help support his family. Johnson taught himself to read with the help of his wife, Eliza McCardle Johnson, who also helped him improve his writing and public speaking.
His humble beginnings made him popular with working-class voters and allowed him to frame himself as a self-made man who understood the struggles of ordinary Americans. His lack of formal education did not prevent him from pursuing a political career, rising from local positions to become a member of Congress, governor of Tennessee, and vice president.
4. Heavily Criticized for His Reconstruction Policies.
Johnson’s presidency is often associated with the controversy surrounding his approach to Reconstruction, the effort to reintegrate Southern states and rebuild the South after the Civil War.
Johnson believed in a lenient policy toward the former Confederate states, granting pardons to many Southern leaders and allowing them to quickly reestablish control over local governments. He opposed federal intervention to protect the rights of newly freed African Americans, leading to the enactment of “Black Codes,” laws designed to limit the freedoms of former slaves.
His policies angered the Radical Republicans in Congress, who believed Johnson was undermining the goals of Reconstruction and enabling the South to return to its pre-war social structure.
5. First President to Be Impeached.
Andrew Johnson’s impeachment in 1868 was a pivotal event in U.S. history and the result of ongoing clashes with Congress over Reconstruction.
The immediate cause of his impeachment was his dismissal of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, a move that violated the Tenure of Office Act, which prohibited the president from removing certain officeholders without Senate approval.
Johnson’s impeachment trial in the Senate captured national attention, as it was the first time a U.S. president faced such proceedings. Although the House of Representatives voted to impeach him, Johnson narrowly avoided removal from office when the Senate failed to convict him by just one vote, maintaining his presidency until the end of his term.
6. Advocated for States’ Rights.
Johnson’s political ideology was rooted in a firm belief in states’ rights, a view that shaped many of his decisions as president. He believed that individual states, rather than the federal government, should have the primary responsibility for governing and determining policies, including those related to civil rights and the treatment of freed African Americans.
While Johnson supported the Union during the Civil War, he did not agree with using federal power to enforce social changes in the South. His opposition to congressional Reconstruction plans and civil rights legislation led to a prolonged political battle between the presidency and Congress, ultimately weakening his authority.
7. Vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
In one of the most significant moments of his presidency, Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which was intended to grant citizenship and equal protection under the law to African Americans. He argued that the act represented an overreach of federal authority and interfered with states’ rights.
His veto sparked outrage among Radical Republicans, who saw it as an attempt to roll back progress made during the war. In an unprecedented move, Congress overrode Johnson’s veto, marking the first time in U.S. history that a major presidential veto was overturned.
This conflict further alienated Johnson from Congress and damaged his reputation among those advocating for civil rights.
8. Survived an Assassination Plot.
During the same night Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, Andrew Johnson was also a target in the larger conspiracy led by John Wilkes Booth. The plot involved coordinated attacks on key government officials, including Secretary of State William H. Seward.
Johnson’s would-be assassin, George Atzerodt, had been assigned to kill him at his residence in the Kirkwood House hotel. However, Atzerodt lost his nerve and fled without carrying out the assassination. Johnson’s survival was partly due to Atzerodt’s hesitation, sparing the nation further political chaos during an already turbulent period.
9. Struggled to Gain Political Support.
Throughout his presidency, Johnson faced political isolation due to his inability to build alliances with either the Republican or Democratic Party.
As a Unionist Democrat, he had alienated many Southerners by opposing secession, while his opposition to key Republican policies alienated Northern politicians. His refusal to compromise with Congress on issues of Reconstruction and civil rights led to constant political gridlock.
By the end of his term, Johnson’s political career was in shambles, and he was denied the Democratic Party’s nomination for the 1868 election. Ulysses S. Grant, the Republican candidate, easily won the presidency, further cementing Johnson’s legacy as a politically weakened leader.
10. Returned to the Senate After His Presidency.
Despite his controversial presidency, Johnson’s political career did not end with his departure from the White House. In 1875, he achieved a rare political comeback when he was elected to the U.S. Senate, making him the only former president to serve in the Senate. His return to the Senate was brief, as he passed away just a few months after taking office.
His death on July 31, 1875, ended the life of a man whose presidency remains one of the most debated and contentious in American history. While some view him as a defender of states’ rights, others criticize him for failing to support the civil rights of African Americans during Reconstruction.