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Andrew Johnson December 29, 1808 Raleigh, North Carolina- July 31, 1875 Carter County, Tennessee Political party: Pro-Union War Democrat One Term in office: April 15, 1865- March 3, 1869 Vice-President: None

Thematic Context: Throughout Johnson's presidency, culture in America was changing; as was America itself in the time period following the Civil War. Tempers continued to flare after the war between the North and South, and culture especially in the South was re-creating itself. Because of slavery, now non-existent, the South's economy and livelyhood was utterly shaken. Southern culture, once based around slavery, now turned into an angry southern workforce. (If this is difficult to understand, think of it as a beehive. The worker bee's have all dissapeared, leaving only the queen and her guard bee's; whom looked after the work bees. Now the system, and heirarchy of the hive must change in order to prevent the extinction of the hive. The culture within that bee hive changes as the guard bee's become worker bees and the queen is removed from power.) Meanwhile the slaves, being protected under the ammendments (13, 14, and 15) were subject to unethical racism which lasted for many years.

Thesis: Andrew Johnson, "was one of the most unfortunate of Presidents." according to the //White house.// Although Johnson was admirable in his efforts he earned a D for his presdency. Johnson who grew up in poverty in North Carolina, even opening his own tailor shop at one point, was just not up to par with the radical republicans stacked againt him while in office. Johnson made the mistake of trying to re-establish the Confederate states while congress was not in session. Providing presidential pardons to those who pledges alleigence to him, showed how desperate he was to gain support after Lincolns assasination. Part-in-parcel to the fact that the South still considered Johnson a traitor for staying in Senate during Tenessee's secession. The South's continued rebellion continued in office to Johnson as they passed legislature he vetoed. Johnson therefore, sadly earns a D for his presidency.

Johnson's Goals: Put in quite a predicament after Lincoln's death, Johnson's goals were merely to proceed with what Lincoln had started. Lincoln's plans, now Johnson's, was to re-admit the Confederate states to the union. There Johnson faced a problem. Johnson, like many were under the impresion that the confederate states had never actually left the union, however these opinions were not shared by congress-//re-established shorty after johnsons inaugeration, but after prior attempts to re-admit the Confederate states.// Who wanted to establish stricter terms to be re-admitted. This struggle quickly turned into a power struggle as President Johnson would veto legislature and the newfound Congress would over-ride it, and pass the legislature. (Sidenote: The South refused to re-instate any previous peoples of political status back into politics, in attempt to keep grasp of the secession.) Other matters of conflict included Johnson's optimism of the South's acceptance of the 14th and 15th ammendments. Racism was sadly too powerful for politics, and Johnson was shut-down in his atempts to promate equality in the South.

Johnson's Relationship with Congress: Poor Johnson had posibly the worst-ever relationship with congress, shown adequately in the 29 pieces of legislature he vetoed, and the 15 which Congress over-ruled using the two-thirds vote. Johnson's relationship would be best described as a power struggle. With the Southern participation being all new peoples, their views were insanely biased towards the South's secession. Johnson; now in the middle of the North- creating new policies in which the Confederate states could be re-admitted to the Union, and the South- being forced back into the Union and resenting the North and new ammendments. To wrap up, Johnson's relationship with congress was not healthy, and presumibly was his demise as president.

Positives for Johnson (Way to Go! Moments): Trying his best to maintain positive relations with Russia, Johnson bought the territory of Alaska from Russia's Czar. At the time Alaska was a shot in the dark. Many questioned the purchase with skeptisicm that it would amount to anything. Others were excited at the rumors of it's riches, and were quick to form trips in search of gold and oil. Only after Johnson's presidency did Alaska become America's goldmine, literally. Alaska was found to have extensive gold deposits as well as oil, leaving Johnson to thank for the addition of the once barren territory.

Negatives for Johnson (Hide in the cupboard! Moments): While Johnson didn't have any standout moment of weakness, he did stumble (figuratively) in one aspect. Johnson vetoed 29 pieces of legislature, maybe a bit excessive, did stutter the growth of America in that it prolonged the addition of the Confederate states back itno the Union. Johnson's presidency basically consisted of this prolonged period, which was a detriment in the history of the nation.

Future Impacts: Johnson's purchase of Alaska gave America a huge amount of wealth. The wealth found in gold and silver and oil deposits in Alaska were a boost to the economy. Alaska as a territory also added growth to the nation, more land. As for anything else, Johnson didn't contribute much to future presidents or the nation.

Conclusion: Johnson earned a D for his presidency, not for lack of effort, he earned a B for effort, overall a D though. Throughout Johnson's presidency he was in a tough position, with Lincolns plans already in place and Johnson to make sense of and continue them. Sadly the relationship with Congress is what hindered Johnson's success as a president. Even with the additon of Alaska Johnson was unable to utilize his position as president in congressional aspects. The prolonged re-admiton to the union was a waste of time, and money and took the entirety of Johnson's presidency, earning him a D.

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