Andrew Johnson

Birth-Death: (1808 - 1875 ) Term: (1865-1869 )

The nation following the Civil War was a nation still divided. The former Confederate States were an uncertain issue. Perspective differed on their current status as states in the Union. Fear, resentment, and anger continued to flow on both sides of the nation, which the Radical Republicans used to further punish the South. During the Reconstruction Era, the nation was governed by the North, while the South experienced military rule.

Major Events with Andrew Johnson

1865, 1868, 1870 - The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments are passed.

    After the Civil War was won by the North, it went on to abolish all slavery and prevent civil rights and voting rights discrimination. The 13th amendment guaranteed that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude . . . shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." Thus, in 1865, less than a year after the end of the war, slavery was forever abolished.

    The Fourteenth amendment went on to reverse the Dred Scott decision of 1857. It redefined the notion of a citizen as to include black Americans. It also stated that "No state shall make or enforce a law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States." This amendment was at first only passed by Tennessee and all other southern states remained unrepresented in Congress.

    The Fifteenth amendment was drawn up to further reinforce a section of the Fourteenth amendment and stated "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." This sparked the creation of organizations such as the KKK and Knights of the White Camelia which intimidated black voters and often resorted to violence to stop the freedmen from voting.

1867 - Purchase of Alaska

    The Russian government offered Alaska to the United States many times throughout the 1800s. Its remoteness from the capital, the difficulties of administering it, and the declining revenue from the region made the Russians eager to sell. In 1867, Secretary of State William H. Seward finally made the purchase for $7.2 million. It was referred to as "Seward's Folly" and "Seward's Icebox" until gold was discovered there in the 1900s.

1867-1868 - Tenure of Office Act, Johnson's impeachment

    The Act stated that President Johnson could not fire any federal employee without the Senate's consent. Johnson and his cabinet considered this act unconstitutional, and Johnson fired his Secretary of War, Stanton. Thus, in the eyes of Congress, Johnson violated a constitutional law, and he was impeached. After the trial before the Senate, the vote was 35 to 19 against Johnson. This was only one vote shy of the required two-thirds majority, and Johnson remained president.