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(December 29, 1808- July 31, 1875). Andrew Johnson’s **political party** is said to be Democrat and National Union. The National Union party was an alliance between the Republican Party (those who backed Lincoln and the Democrats during and after the Civil War.) The party dissolved after Republicans bailed and essentially became Democratic Party. In **Presidency**: March 4, 1865 through April 15, 1865; and April 15, 1865 through March 4, 1869. No **Vice President** The overall rating of President Johnson and his administration should be a D. Although he did preside during the time of both recouping the South and expanding to acquire Alaska, and was a man of humble beginnings with no formal education and strong ties to the South, he did little to bring together the North and South after the turbulent times following the Civil War and assignation of Abraham Lincoln. Andrew Johnson had the presidency foisted upon him after the assignation of President Lincoln. He was selected as VP because of his strong unionist beliefs and ties to the South, but when forced to affect the goals for re-unification that were the vision of himself and Lincoln, he just fell short. Johnson tried to use the veto power of the presidency, but had little success. His efforts to balance forgiveness with promises of loyalty and push the civil rights choices into the power of the states were insufficient. His approach was so abrasive to the Congress that they simply stopped him through an impeachment proceeding. Unsuccessful in this challenge, the net effect was to cause him to be ineffectual and the power of the presidency took a short-term blow. The fact that the Act under which he was challenged fell as unconstitutional is testament to the strength of the system. Yet, on the short term, President Andrew Johnson was rendered ineffective because of it. His strong personality and sense of justice simply were too intense for the times. Whatever else may be said of him, his integrity and courage have been seldom questioned though often proved. He was by nature and temperament squarely disposed toward justice and the right, and was a determined warrior for his convictions. He erred from limitation of grasp and perception, perhaps, or through sore perplexity in trying times, but never weakly or consciously. He was always headstrong and "sure he was right" even in his errors. (NYTimes Obituary) In 1864 he was described: “ ‘Andy’ Johnson, like Mr. Lincoln, is emphatically a self-made man. He reflects directly, in his wonderful career, the genius of our institutions, under which the humblest citizen may attain the highest honors of the republic.” The Harper’s Weekly found him to be “conspicuous for his solid sense and sterling integrity”. (Harper 6/25/2864). However, by 1866 the same public opinion had shifted: His exhibition of temper, his intemperate, and often indecent, denunciation of his political opponents remind us rather of the demagogue than of the unimpassioned and well-balanced statesman. Whether we deem him right or wrong, his speeches before the people always have had essentially the same characteristics – the same strength and the same weakness. He never forgets, or lets you forget, that he is "the humble individual who is now addressing you;" he seems always apprehensive lest we shall lose sight of the sacrifices which he has borne or the service which he has done; if we do not agree with him politically we may expect to be called "traitors;" if any opponent has denounced him, we may be sure that he will return the blow with interest, thus putting himself upon the level of his intemperate and it may be vulgar antagonist. These characteristics are the result, in part, of his peculiar temperament, and, in still greater part, of his political education. **Harper's Weekly, September 15, 1866, page 584. ** **This shift in public perception was on the heels of his public stance on punishment for those he believed wronged the Union: on April 18, 1865 he publically stated, “ ** The times we live in are not without instruction. The American people must be taught -- if they do not already feel -- that treason is a crime and must be punished; that the Government will not always bear with its enemies; that it is strong not only to protect but to punish" (New York Times Obituary). This intolerance was later demonstrated when he refused to ratify the terms of the Sherman-Johnson Convention, which essentially would have made the remaining Confederate armies put down their weapons and then re-establish the authority of the national government. “Everything would have been restored essentially to the status quo ante bellum.” (Mantell). Johnson’s plan would have abolished the Confederate State governments, giving power to existing Unionist governments in four states (Ark., Tenn., LA, and VA.) The rest would have appointed provisional governors.  Andrew Johnson’s main goal was to reconstruct the former Confederate States and did so with a system of pardons and sought to follow the plan of Abraham Lincoln. The problem was the polarization of the North and South over issues of race. Slavery was abolished, but a series of laws or “black codes” were established to regulate freemen. This reality negated the more radical Republicans who really wanted more change than Johnson’s “experiment” was providing. Johnson’s claim was to be tolerant and forgiving to the Southern states, however, his plan to have states return after an oath of loyalty was pretty much doomed because the radical republicans wanted punishment and the South didn’t want to extend the vote to Negro slaves (Hall). Johnson’s refusal to stop the Southern states from gutting the essence of the reconstruction plan through selective implementation was in line with a white supremacist viewpoint that was so common in the South. Johnson’s relationship with Congress deteriorated beyond the point of return. Johnson tried to veto the Civil Rights Act of 1866. He claimed this was because he wanted the Southern States to determine their own course and should not be dictated to by the North. This veto and 15 others were defeated. As Morton Mac explained, “ His was a time and society where white supremacy - even in the North - was as commonly accepted as biscuit and gravy. Johnson was neither an abolitionist nor especially sympathetic to the slaves. Like many other mountaineers and non-slave-holding farmers, Johnson harbored a deep resentment of the planter class which extended to (perhaps may have been symbolized by) African-American slaves. Was he a racist? By today's standards, yes. By his - no.” (Macinvale). President Johnson and Congress had an extremely bad relationship. In response to this animosity, Congress established a law that made it illegal to remove appointed government officials from office –including cabinet members -without their approval. In 1867, Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act (Johnson could not veto it). The broad stroke is that Johnson did, wouldn’t back down and then went through the public humiliation and debilitating impeachment process. Later vindicated because the act was determined to be unconstitutional, all the damage was done and Johnson nearly faded into obscurity. He was later elected into public office before his death, (1874 :Tennessee US Senator) but for the most part was vilified and couldn’t recover politically. Most modern historians find him to have been one of the worst presidents, in part as seen through the eyes of modern goals of African American civil rights movement because Johnson thwarted efforts as an early obstacle to true reformation. People who are self righteous and passionately defiant are often viewed as failures when being judged on leadership roles. But it is that strong will that often holds the line against tyrannies as well. Although he talked about punishment and true loyalty, he   During his tenure in office, the 13th and 14th Amendments were passed and Blacks were extended the right to vote. This is a huge accomplishment, even if it did occur in spite of him. The credit cannot go to his administration, but it did occur during his tenure, so it is a part of his legacy. Another significant event during his presidency is more directly related to his efforts was the acquisition of Alaska from Russia. This cheap land provided much wealth (even though gold and oil were not discovered until well after his term) and a buffer from Russia. His choice to not jump in quickly to assist the United Kingdom during the Fennian Raids (in response to his perception of British sympathies with the South during the war) precipitated the establishment of the Canadian Federation. (Wiki). In spite of his strong rhetoric about punishment, he issued a full pardon to everyone who had taken part in the rebellion. He did this on Christmas day as his last official act as President. President Andrew Johnson stood in the way of the 13th and 14th Amendments, he thwarted much legislation that was proposed to bring the North and South together without additional rifting; but in the end, President Johnson steered the nation through a most difficult time. As his obituary explained, his public reputation would have been much better had he not had to be challenged by the demands of the presidency in such a turbulent time. His vision was not the one embraced by the public or its leaders- but the system would be flawed if a president could control without checks and balances. The presidency of Andrew Johnson was one of missed opportunities to strengthen the bonds that hold the nation together, yet in spite of his weaknesses and failures, the nation did survive. Because of the test to the strength of the Presidency and the power taken by Congress, the country was stronger in the end. Had the South prevailed and the civil rights concerns been defeated, then Johnson could be ranked as an F or failing president. It was not, and therefore, although he was obstructionist, he did not affect the further split of the union. Bibliography Adler, John. //The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson: First Vetos. .// “Andrew Johnson Dead: A Sketch of the ex-President’s career.” New York Times Obituary //August 1, 1875 p.1. . “Andrew Jackson”. Whitehouse.gov. (30) ct. 2009) <  [] >. // “Andrew Johnson” . //   “Events and Accomplishments of Andrew Jackson’s Presidency.” American History About.com. (30 Oct. 2009) .    Hall, Kermit; Paul Finkelman, James W. Ely (2005). //American Legal History// (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 259–260.         <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">**<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;">Harper's Weekly, June 25, 1864, page 402 ****<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;"> < ** [] >. <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">**<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;">Harper's Weekly, September 15, 1866, page 584. ****<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;">< ** [] >. <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;"> Mantell, Martin E. . //JOHNSON, GRANT, and the POLITICS of RECONSTRUCTION//. Columbia University Press //New York & London// 1973. <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">

Macinvale, Morton. //Legacy of Andrew Johnson.// (30 Oct. 2009) < [] >.