Johnson's Presidential Life Andrew Johnson example essay topic

Andrew Johnson's Presidential Andrew Andrew Johnson's Presidential Essay, Research Paper Andrew Johnson's Presidential Life Andrew Johnson became president in 1829. He became a Greenville alderman along with a tanner and a plaster. Andrew Johnson was the first president to be impeached, and he became chief executive upon the assisi nation of Abraham Lincoln. At the end of the Civil War, Johnson inherited a wartime dispute between Lincoln and congress over how to treat the South after the war. A lot of Republicans in congress opposed Johnson's views, but the senate failed, by one vote, to remove Johnson from office. Throughout his life and his presidency, Johnson aroused either strong support or fierce dislike.

Some people view him as an unfit leader who was to generous to the southerners after the war. Some people also portrayed him as a leader of universal vision who accurately saw the harsh treatment of the southern states would increase divisions in the Union. Scholars believe Johnson's acquittal in the impeachment trial preserved the independance of the presidency. In 1835, the voters elected him to the Tennessee House of Represent ive. He opposed a bill for state assistance in the construction of railroads because he feared dishonesty, and wistful spending. Many northerners questioned Johnson's plan, especially after the begining of 1866.

They doubted the fitness of the southern states because of reports of violence against blacks and their white supporters, the passing of laws unfair to blacks, and the frequent election of former Confederate leaders. When congress met in December 1865, they rejected plan and would not seat newly elected southern congressmen, and some congressman criticized Johnson's plan. His impeachment had long been a goal of the radicals. On Feburary 24, 1868 the House of Representitves voted 126 to 47 to impeach Johnson.

On March 5, 1868 the senate organized itself as a court to hear the impeachment. At the trial on March 13, 1868 the galleries buzzed with spectators. Some of Johnson's accusers tried to implicate him in Lincon's murder, but failed. Andrew's life in the White House became livelier during his administration years.

The household included, the Jonson's two surviving sons, Robert and Andrew, and their daughters, Mary Stover and Martha Patterson. One of his daughters, Martha, married the Senator D.T. Patterson of Tennessee, and had the president's five grandchildren. Later after leaving the White House, Johnson remained in politics. In 1869 he ran for senate, but lost the election by two votes. In 1872, Johnson ran for the US House of Representatives as an independant against a Republican and a democratic ex-Confederate general.

For the second in time his life, Johnson lost a popular election. But he won election to the US senate in 1875 and thus became the only former president to some as a senator. During a visit to Tennessee, Johnson suffered a paralytic stroke. He died a few days later on July 31, 1875. Johnson was buried in Greenville, wrapped in a US flag and with his well worn copy of the constution under his head.