With the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson became the 17th President of the United States (1865-1869), an old-fashioned southern politician who found himself thrust into a position of immense responsibility during a turbulent period in American history. Born in a log cabin in North Carolina, Johnson rose from humble beginnings to become a U.S. Senator and eventually Vice President under Lincoln. However, his presidency would be marred by controversy and conflict.
Johnson's presidency coincided with the Reconstruction era, a period of intense social and political change following the Civil War. As a staunch defender of states' rights, Johnson clashed with the Radical Republicans in Congress who sought to impose harsher measures on the defeated South. His lenient approach to Reconstruction, which aimed to quickly restore the Union, drew criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. While some praised his efforts to bring the Southern states back into the fold, others argued that he did not do enough to protect the rights of newly freed slaves.
The tension between Johnson and Congress reached a boiling point when he vetoed several key pieces of legislation aimed at protecting the rights of African Americans and ensuring their equal treatment under the law. This led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives, making him the first president to face such a fate. Although he was ultimately acquitted by the Senate, his presidency was severely weakened, and his ability to enact meaningful change was greatly diminished.