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__Andrew Johnson__



//December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875 Term of Office: April 15, 1865 – March 3, 1869 Vice President: None Political Party: Democratic, Unionist //


 * __Thesis: __** Vice President Andrew Johnson assumed the huge task of reconstructing the union after Lincoln’s assassination. Originally, Johnson was only a political move to attract war Democrat votes for Lincoln, no one could have ever imagined such a character would be the one reconstructing the country. His stubborn and easy going policies on the South, which almost had him impeached, have earned him the grade of a “D” for his presidency.

**__Goals as President: __** Johnson had many goals when it came to the reconstruction of the South. Johnson was an advocate in State’s rights and honored Lincoln’s plan as he quickly recognized governments with ten percent of the voters sworn to the oath of allegiance. One of Johnson’s goals included his own ambitious reconstruction plan. His plan would disfranchise leading Confederates with more than 20,000 dollars of taxable property they could, however, petition him for a personal pardon. Johnson’s plan also called for a state convention that would be required to repeal the ordinances of secession, repay Confederate debts and lastly ratify the Thirteenth amendment which would free slaves and would allow that state back into the Union. Lastly one of Johnson’s goals was to keep what he believed, radicals in Congress control by vetoing many bills he thought unconstitutional.

**__President and Congress: __** “The dead dog of the White House” was a common phrase to describe Johnson as he battled with Congress. Johnson was a southerner at heart with a Republican Congress. Johnson constantly clashed with Congress over reconstruction as he enjoyed his power over the elite aristocracy too much granting an abundance of pardons which infuriated Republicans. In 1866 Congress passed a counter bill to the Black Codes, which were recently passed in the South, called the Civil Rights Bill. President Johnson vetoed this bill for constitutional reasons, Congress then over road Johnson’s veto later in the year. Congress quickly made the Bill into a fourteenth amendment and all the Republicans in Congress agreed no state should be readmitted without first ratifying this amendment. Johnson, going against Congress, advised the South to reject the amendment. Eventually the Republicans had a veto proof Congress due to a two thirds majority of their party in both the House and Senate and had unlimited control of reconstruction. **__ Positive/ Negative Outcome: __** The most positive outcome under Johnson’s presidency is still around today in fact. This positive outcome is the addition of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendment. The Fourteenth amendment was a counter action to the Black Codes which were literally making the free blacks into legal slaves. **The Fourteenth amendment conferred civil rights, reduced the representation of a state in Congress and in the Electoral College if it denied blacks the ballot, disqualified from federal and state office former Confederates, and did not assume the Confederate debts as federal debts.** The Fifteenth amendment was a follow up to the Fourteenth which Republicans believed fell short. The Fifteenth amendment which added black suffrage in the Federal Constitution this was used as a safeguard so readmitted states would not repeal and deny blacks the ballot. The most negative outcome under Johnson’s presidency was the Black Codes, previously mentioned. The codes aimed to make a stable labor force, contracts were made that committed blacks to working for an employer for one year and low wages and there were penalties for breaking their contract. The black codes also took freed men’s rights as they denied the blacks the right to serve on a jury, restricted rent or lease of land, and forced them to work on a chain gang if they were being “idle". These oppressive codes were even defended by Johnson as he denied the counter to the codes, The Wade Davis Bill.

**__President After Effects: __** Johnson’s administration which was largely there for show, as Johnson went against their advising and ignored them, had great success in foreign relations. In 1867 the Russians were over extended and more than likely looking at war with Britain. Not wanting to lose their far away province to Britain they eagerly sought out the United States to purchase the vast territory of Alaska. Not wanting to offend the Russians Johnson’s administration bought Alaska through a treaty for 7.2 million dollars. Although many were aghast that we would purchase a frozen waste land, it was more of a political move to show the Russians we appreciated their friendliness during the civil war. Eventually the purchase proved to be a strong move as it included deposits of gas, oil, and other natural resources helpful in the future.

**__Conclusion: __** Johnson’s stubbornness during reconstruction is what ultimately hurt his reputation and presidency. His constant vetoing and failure to recognize the discrimination in the South ultimately were returning the country to before the Civil War. If not for Congresses assertive and quick action in making themselves veto proof for proper reconstruction we might still be living with the old south today. These follies of Johnson are what ultimately have earned him the grade of a “D”.

**__Work Cited: __** Cohen, Lizabeth, and Thomas A. Bailey David M. Kennedy. //The American Pageant, A History of the Republic (2002 12th Edition)//. 12th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. Print.

Degregorio, William A.. //The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents, Seventh Edition (Complete Book of Us Presidents)//. 7 ed. Fort Lee: Barricade Books, 2009. Print.