Andrew Johnson Facts
Andrew Johnson Facts
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Interesting Andrew Johnson Facts: |
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Despite lacking a formal education, Johnson learned how to read and write from a number of different people, including his wife. |
Johnson began his political career in the Tennessee state legislature and although not initially a member of a party, he eventually became an ardent Jacksonian Democrat. |
Johnson was known to be an excellent orator and debater. |
From 1843 to 1853 Johnson represented Tennessee's 1st District in the United States House of Representatives |
Johnson was elected to serve as Tennessee's governor from October 15, 1853 to November 3, 1857 and served as military governor of the state during the Civil War. |
Johnson was United States Senator from Tennessee from 1857 to 1862. |
Although a slave owner, Johnson agreed with the Emancipation Proclamation. |
During the 1864 U.S. Presidential Election, although a Democrat, Johnson ran as Lincoln's vice presidential candidate on the "Union Ticket." |
Johnson favored a lenient Reconstruction in the south, whereby each state would be allowed to reassemble their governments and to determine the voting rights of black men. |
Since he was a Democrat, a southerner, and favored lenient Reconstruction, Johnson immediately found himself at odds with the "Radical" faction of the Republican Party. |
Johnson favored re-enfranchising less wealthy Confederates over the planter class. |
During the celebration of George Washington's birthday on February 22, 1866, Johnson gave a fiery speech where he accused several Radical Republicans, such as Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner, of plotting his assassination. |
Johnson vetoed the Voting Rights Act of 1866 on March 27, 1866, which would have given citizenship to former slaves. |
Although the Republicans were continually exasperated by Johnson's continual vetoes of their bills, the immediate cause of the impeachment was Johnson's dismissal of Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. |
After a three month impeachment trial in the Senate, Johnson was acquitted in May 1868. |
Before leaving office, Johnson pardoned all of the remaining high-profile Confederates, including former CSA President Jefferson Davis. |
After his presidential term was over, Johnson returned to Tennessee where he unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate and Congress. |
His son Robert committed suicide in 1869 |
He was elected to the U.S. Senate in a special election on March 4, 1875. |
Johnson died on July 30, 1875 at the age of sixty-six due to complications from multiple strokes. |
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