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Name: Andrew Johnson Birth date: December 29, 1808 Death date: July 31, 1875 Political Party: Democrat/Union Term(s): 1865–1869 Vice President(s): none

Andrew Johnson was lenient in his reintegration of Southern states and unfortunately had a part, probably unintentionally, in limiting the rights former slaves had in the South. He first vetoed a bill that would have extended the life of the Freedmen’s Bureau which was a prominent provider of education to former slaves. This got the radicals riled up over his apparent Anti-black stance which they passed the Civil Rights Bill in retaliation. Johnson also vetoed the Civil Rights Bill which had attempted to give the rights of citizens to former slaves. Although Congress went over his veto to pass the Civil Rights Bill, Johnson’s actions had hurt former slaves rights in the Southern states for years to come.
 * __Thematic Context __**

During his presidency, Andrew Johnson battled against Congressional legislation with his vetoes and attempted to reintegrate the Southern states as quick and painlessly as possible. Unfortunately, he achieved integration by allowing southern states to pass laws that restricted the rights that blacks who were living there had. This garners him a grade of a D for attempting to defy Congress and also deny blacks there rights as citizens.
 * __Thesis __**

The goals of the Andrew Johnson presidency were to uphold the Constitution as and to reintegrate the South as painlessly as possible. Johnson upheld the Constitution by vetoing bills that he felt did not adhere to the rules set forth by the Constitution. These bills included the bill to renew the Freedman’s Bureau and the Civil Rights Bill. He also set to quickly reintegrate the south by letting them requirements to rejoin easy to obtain and to allow them to pass laws to take rights away from black citizens.
 * __Goals __**

Due to his constant stream of vetoes, Johnson was seen in an unfavorable light in Congress. He went against what the republican majority wanted and defended his view that he was upholding the Constitution. This mistrust of Johnson would eventually lead to his impeachment trial over him letting go his Secretary of War even though it had went against a law earlier passed by Congress. Johnson was acquitted by one vote but was still hated by the majority of Congress.
 * __Relationship with Congress __**

The Black Codes that were passed by southern states with help from Johnson hindered the progress blacks had made to becoming full citizens. These black codes banned numerous freedoms from blacks such as free speech, unemployment, and the right to testify against whites. These Black Codes forced blacks into being 2nd class citizens and would take many years for them to be repealed and would also help to further prejudicial feeling that some whites had for blacks.
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Future Influence __**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Although he was less harsh to the southern states than the republicans, Johnson made concessions to the south for their cooperation through the denial of rights to blacks, which is unforgivable. The “black codes” that resulted would take years to be repealed and would leave racist and prejudicial feelings in the minds of whites that would never fade. With those points considered, Johnson garners himself a rating of D for attempting to treat the South with compassion but alienating blacks in the process.
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Conclusion __**


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bibliography __**

<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">"American President: Andrew Johnson." //Miller Center//. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. <http://millercenter.org/president/johnson>

<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">"Andrew Johnson | The White House." //The White House//. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/andrewjohnson>

<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">"SparkNotes: Reconstruction (1865–1877): The Postwar South and the Black Codes: 1865–1877." //SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides//. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. []