Andrew Johnson
A defiant Southern tailor turned president, his fierce battles with Congress over Reconstruction left a lasting scar on American racial equality.
1808–1875 (age 67)·President of the United States from 1865 to 1869·Birthday: December 29
Biography
Andrew Johnson's presidency was born from tragedy and defined by conflict. A self-made man from Tennessee with no formal schooling, he climbed from tailor to senator, remaining loyal to the Union even when his state seceded. This made him a symbolic choice as Abraham Lincoln's running mate in 1864. Upon Lincoln's assassination, the presidency fell to a man utterly opposed to the Radical Republicans' vision for the South. Johnson clashed ferociously with Congress, vetoing civil rights bills and advocating for a swift restoration of the former Confederate states with minimal conditions. His leniency towards the white Southern elite and hostility towards protections for freed slaves effectively sabotaged early Reconstruction efforts. This intransigence led to his impeachment by the House, though he was acquitted in the Senate by a single vote, leaving a legacy as a chief executive who profoundly failed the nation at a pivotal moment.
#1 When Andrew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1808
Andrew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1808Born
1813Started school
1821Became a teenager
1824Could drive
1826Could vote
1829Turned 21
1838Turned 30
1848Turned 40
1858Turned 50
1868Turned 60
President: Andrew Johnson
1875Died at 67
President: Ulysses S. Grant
Key Achievements
- Became the 17th President of the United States following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865.
- Was the first U.S. president to be impeached by the House of Representatives.
- Oversaw the purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire in 1867, known at the time as 'Seward's Folly'.
- Issued a blanket amnesty to most former Confederates in 1868, accelerating their return to political power.
Did You Know?
He was taught to read by his wife, Eliza McCardle, whom he married when he was 18 and she was 16.
He is the only U.S. president who previously served as a U.S. senator after his presidency.
He was buried with a copy of the U.S. Constitution, per his request.
He was a tailor by trade and often made his own clothes.
“The goal to strive for is a poor government but a rich people.”
