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Andrew Johnson Born: December 29, 1808 Death: July 31, 1875 Party: Democrat, Union Term in Office: 1865-1869 Vice President: None Andrew Johnson was a C president. His relation with Congress was horrible. He did however help with the reconstruction of the U.S. after the civil war. His decisions to get rid of plans that would help Blacks get back on their feet was a bad one. Andrew Johnson’s goals were to quickly restore the Union. This goal he accomplished very well when he continued with Lincoln’s 10 percent Reconstruction plan for the seceded states. Also, he wanted to stop the government from helping the blacks. This was accomplished by vetoing the Civil Rights Bill and the Freedmen’s Bureau that Congress wanted to pass. He also let the new governments of the seceded states pass the Black Code laws as well. Andrew Johnson had a horrible relationship with Congress. Andrew Johnson vetoed many of Congress’s bills and even then Congress overrode his vetoes. We see this in Johnson’s veto of the Civil Rights Bill. Congress over rid his veto and this set Congress to continue to override his vetoes. Andrew Johnson also vetoed the Freedmen’s Bill which was to help Blacks start their new lives in the U.S. Also, Congress did not agree with Andrew Johnson on the 10 Percent Reconstruction Plan and many republicans wanted a higher Reconstruction plan of 50 percent. Also, Congress hated that Andrew Johnson allowed the Black Code laws to be put in place. Congress even tried to impeach him. All in all Andrew Johnson’s relation with Congress was probably what was so bad about his presidency because he could not do what he wanted to do with Congress against him. The most positive thing that Andrew Johnson did during his presidency was the10 percent Reconstruction Plan. This allowed the seceded states to quickly rejoin the Union and allowing less conflict between the states. It somewhat improved the mood of the Southern States. Also, with the Reconstruction Plan the 13th amendment was forced on the Southern states and this in turn freed he Blacks from slavery. This was probably the best way to get the South to sign onto the 13th amendment that they probably would not have signed otherwise. The second most positive thing Andrew Johnson probably did was buy Alaska from Russia. Perhaps the worst thing that Johnson did during his presidency was the vetoing of the Civil Rights Act and Freedmen’s Bureau. This caused the Blacks to have to fend for themselves after the Civil War. The freedmen’s Bureau would help them get jobs as well as a place to live. The Civil Rights Act was vetoed by him. This act would have stopped the Black Code laws which were being passed by giving Blacks rights of citizenship. Not only did vetoing these laws cause Blacks to have a tougher time, it also caused the relationship with Johnson and Congress to go bad and this led to the overriding problem that Johnson had to face. One of Johnson’s most influential decisions he had during his administration was in his foreign affairs. He had bought Alaska from the Russians. This allowed the U.S. to be free from the Russians in the Western Hemisphere. Also, Johnson upheld the Monroe Doctrine with force when his Secretary of State Seward, sent an army to remove the invading France from Mexico between 1861 and 1867. He also stopped Irish Immigrants from trying to annex Canada. All of these actions affected future administrations because it improved foreign affairs within the Western Hemisphere. It also, enforced the Monroe Doctrine. Also the Purchase of Alaska allowed the U.S. to have lots of oil which was important for our economy. In conclusion, Johnson was a C president. His relationship with Congress stopped some important decisions of his from being made, which might have been for the best. Johnson did veto bills that would have helped former slaves start a new life. He got the 13th amendment passed as well. He did, however, improve foreign affairs and did allow the Union to be repaired fairly fast. He did meet his goals in some parts, but some of those goals were reversed by Congress’s relation with him. In all Johnson was just an average president. He did some good stuff, he did some bad stuff and that is why I give him a C.. "Andrew Johnson." __The White House__. 2008. 2 Nov. 2008 .

Microsoft Corporation. "Andrew Johnson." __Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia__. 2008. 2 Nov. 2008 . Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey. __American Pageant : Advanced__ __ Placement __. 12th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin College Division, 2001.

Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. "Andrew Johnson." __American President An Online resource__. 2008. University of Virginia. 2 Nov. 2008 .