Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson - Political Leaders, Career and Childhood

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Andrew Johnson's Personal Details

Read about Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States, in the biography, which has all the relevant information about his profile, childhood, life and timeline.

InformationDetail
BirthdayDecember 29, 1808
Died onJuly 31, 1875
NationalityAmerican
FamousLeaders, Political Leaders, Presidents
Nick namesSir Veto, The Tennessee Tailor, The Grim Presence
SpousesEliza McCardle Johnson
SiblingsElizabeth Johnson, William Johnson
ChildrensRobert Johnson
Birth PlaceRaleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Political IdeologyDemocratic
ReligionChristian
GenderMale
FatherJacob Johnson
MotherMary McDonough Johnson
Sun SignCapricorn
Born inRaleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Died at Age66

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Andrew Johnson's photo

Who is Andrew Johnson?

Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of United States of America, rose to the position (while he was serving as the vice-president) when President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Born to an extremely poor family, this soon-to-be president never had the privilege of attending school and had to live life, the hard way. Nevertheless, he was smart enough to build his future solely on his understanding of the politics of the time and through sheer hard work. Later, Eliza McCardle, his wife, helped him learn how to write and tutored him on many subjects. Born and raised among the working class, he always advocated their rights and sought privileges for them. Throughout his tenure in politics, he worked towards offering a better life to the plebeians and served the best in his capacity. However, his intolerance towards the African-Americans attracted the disapprovals of most of the radical politicians who fought to end slavery. As a conservative, he supported slavery and sought to protect it. His tenure as a president was a little tumultuous as it was abundant with controversies and animosity from fellow politicians. However, he is still considered one of the greatest American politicians who was honest and was driven by patriotism.

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Childhood & Early Life

Andrew was born into the poor household of Jacob Johnson, a constable and Mary McDonough, a laundrywoman. His father died when Andrew was three, leaving the family to the care of Mary, who supported her children by doing laundry.

Later, she married Turner Doughtry, who helped Mary take care of her children. William, the eldest of all the children was sent to work as an apprentice under a tailor and when Andrew was 10, he joined his brother.

However, the duo was unhappy with work and ran away; disregarding the fact they were legally bound to the firm. Andrew worked in North Carolina for some time, before going to South Carolina and finally he returned to his hometown Raleigh, hoping to get back his old job.

His old firm did not take him back and he toured to Tennessee where after some initial hitches he worked as a tailor before his mother called him back to Raleigh. Later, the family shifted to Greeneville, Tennessee and he established a tailoring business.

Career

Johnson turned his attention to politics, advocating the cause of the working class people. In 1829, in the municipal elections of Greenville, he was elected as a representative.

In 1831, when the Tennessee government passed a new legislation to disenfranchise the African-Americans, he supported the move, thereby earning the government’s favor.

Eventually, he was elected the mayor of Greeneville on January 4, 1834. He supported the constitution which did not allow disfranchising the African-Americans. He also wanted to reevaluate the real estate tax rates and improve the infrastructure in Tennessee.

In 1835, he successfully set his foot in the Tennessee state legislature, where, he supported the Democratic principles of president, Andrew Jackson.

He was elected to the United States Congress, as a Democrat from Tennessee and in the House of Representatives he became a part of a new Democratic majority. In due course, he was elected the governor of Tennessee 1853.

In 1857, he after he was elected a senator, he advocated the Homestead Act according to which the poor were eligible to grants in the form of land from the government.

However, in 1860, when Abraham Lincoln won the national elections, Tennessee withdrew from the National Union Party (Republican Party). Johnson also detached himself from Tennessee, thus, becoming the only remaining senator from the seceded state.

In March 1862, Lincoln appointed him the military governor of Tennessee, which was going through a great deal of turmoil, owing to Civil War which in Tennessee, was led by Nathan Bedford Forrest, a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army. Forrest’s army raided the cities and towns in around the state, making it difficult for Johnson to administer.

President Lincoln, who was impressed with Johnson, especially after displaying his administrative abilities in Tennessee made him vice-president in 1864, during his bid for re-election which he eventually won.

When Abraham Lincoln, was shot on April 14, 1865, Johnson was sworn in as the new president on April 15.

On 1st May, 1865, he gave orders to form a nine-man military commission which would try the assassins of Lincoln. Eventually, the conspirators were charged and executed.

In 1866, Johnson, who was had never liked the idea of the African-Americans being given suffrage and treated equally, vetoed the proposals of Freeman's Bureau, which tried to improve the standard of living of the African-Americans.

The same year he also vetoed the Civil Rights Bill intended to protect the free African-Americans. However, his veto was overruled by the senate.

His increasingly visible hostility towards the African-Americans drew a lot of criticisms from the radicals. Some even claimed that he was involved in the conspiracy of assassinating Lincoln.

On 2nd March, 1867, the first Reconstruction Acts was passed which allowed the free male slaves to vote. As usual, he vetoed, nevertheless the bill was passed.

By this time, the Radical Republicans were already angered by the president’s conservative white-centric views and in November, 1867, the Judiciary Committee voted for his trial.

His trial began on 30th March, 1868, making him the first United States president to be impeached.

He retired in March 1869 and later, the same year made an unsuccessful run for the senate.

He stood for reelection for a seat in the senate on January 20, 1875 to which he was elected and sworn in on March 5.

Major Works

As a senator he introduced the Homestead Bill which offered the applicant the possession of land, at very low or no cost.

After being elected as the vice-president, he tried to restore the civilian administration in Tennessee where the federal system had broken down after Lincoln’s election as President.

Personal Life & Legacy

He married 16 year old Eliza McCardle, in 1827, when he was 18. They had five children, one of whom, Robert Johnson, committed suicide in his youth. Johnson died at the age of 66 after suffering a lethal stroke.

He was buried in Greeneville, Tennessee and 1906, it was declared as ‘Andrew Johnson National Cemetery’. His house and his tailor shop are maintained by the National Park Service as the ‘Andrew Johnson National Historic Site’.

Trivia

This former President of United States was the nation’s first president to be impeached.

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Andrew Johnson biography timelines

  • // 29th Dec 1808
    Andrew was born into the poor household of Jacob Johnson, a constable and Mary McDonough, a laundrywoman. His father died when Andrew was three, leaving the family to the care of Mary, who supported her children by doing laundry.
  • // 1827 To 31st Jul 1875
    He married 16 year old Eliza McCardle, in 1827, when he was 18. They had five children, one of whom, Robert Johnson, committed suicide in his youth. Johnson died at the age of 66 after suffering a lethal stroke.
  • // 1829
    Johnson turned his attention to politics, advocating the cause of the working class people. In 1829, in the municipal elections of Greenville, he was elected as a representative.
  • // 1831
    In 1831, when the Tennessee government passed a new legislation to disenfranchise the African-Americans, he supported the move, thereby earning the government’s favor.
  • // 4th Jan 1834
    Eventually, he was elected the mayor of Greeneville on January 4, 1834. He supported the constitution which did not allow disfranchising the African-Americans. He also wanted to reevaluate the real estate tax rates and improve the infrastructure in Tennessee.
  • // 1835
    In 1835, he successfully set his foot in the Tennessee state legislature, where, he supported the Democratic principles of president, Andrew Jackson.
  • // 1853
    He was elected to the United States Congress, as a Democrat from Tennessee and in the House of Representatives he became a part of a new Democratic majority. In due course, he was elected the governor of Tennessee 1853.
  • // 1857
    In 1857, he after he was elected a senator, he advocated the Homestead Act according to which the poor were eligible to grants in the form of land from the government.
  • // 1860
    However, in 1860, when Abraham Lincoln won the national elections, Tennessee withdrew from the National Union Party (Republican Party). Johnson also detached himself from Tennessee, thus, becoming the only remaining senator from the seceded state.
  • // 1862
    In March 1862, Lincoln appointed him the military governor of Tennessee, which was going through a great deal of turmoil, owing to Civil War which in Tennessee, was led by Nathan Bedford Forrest, a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army. Forrest’s army raided the cities and towns in around the state, making it difficult for Johnson to administer.
  • // 1864
    President Lincoln, who was impressed with Johnson, especially after displaying his administrative abilities in Tennessee made him vice-president in 1864, during his bid for re-election which he eventually won.
  • // 15th Apr 1865
    When Abraham Lincoln, was shot on April 14, 1865, Johnson was sworn in as the new president on April 15.
  • // 1st May 1865
    On 1st May, 1865, he gave orders to form a nine-man military commission which would try the assassins of Lincoln. Eventually, the conspirators were charged and executed.
  • // 1866
    In 1866, Johnson, who was had never liked the idea of the African-Americans being given suffrage and treated equally, vetoed the proposals of Freeman's Bureau, which tried to improve the standard of living of the African-Americans.
  • // 1866
    The same year he also vetoed the Civil Rights Bill intended to protect the free African-Americans. However, his veto was overruled by the senate.
  • // 1867
    By this time, the Radical Republicans were already angered by the president’s conservative white-centric views and in November, 1867, the Judiciary Committee voted for his trial.
  • // 2nd Mar 1867
    On 2nd March, 1867, the first Reconstruction Acts was passed which allowed the free male slaves to vote. As usual, he vetoed, nevertheless the bill was passed.
  • // 30th Mar 1868
    His trial began on 30th March, 1868, making him the first United States president to be impeached.
  • // Mar 1869
    He retired in March 1869 and later, the same year made an unsuccessful run for the senate.
  • // 20th Jan 1875 To 5th Mar 1875
    He stood for reelection for a seat in the senate on January 20, 1875 to which he was elected and sworn in on March 5.
  • // 1906
    He was buried in Greeneville, Tennessee and 1906, it was declared as ‘Andrew Johnson National Cemetery’. His house and his tailor shop are maintained by the National Park Service as the ‘Andrew Johnson National Historic Site’.

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Andrew Johnson's FAQ

  • What is Andrew Johnson birthday?

    Andrew Johnson was born at 1808-12-29

  • When was Andrew Johnson died?

    Andrew Johnson was died at 1875-07-31

  • Where was Andrew Johnson died?

    Andrew Johnson was died in Elizabethton, Tennessee, U.S.

  • Which age was Andrew Johnson died?

    Andrew Johnson was died at age 66

  • Where is Andrew Johnson's birth place?

    Andrew Johnson was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.

  • What is Andrew Johnson nationalities?

    Andrew Johnson's nationalities is American

  • What is Andrew Johnson nick names?

    Andrew Johnson's nickNames is Sir Veto, The Tennessee Tailor, The Grim Presence

  • Who is Andrew Johnson spouses?

    Andrew Johnson's spouses is Eliza McCardle Johnson

  • Who is Andrew Johnson siblings?

    Andrew Johnson's siblings is Elizabeth Johnson, William Johnson

  • Who is Andrew Johnson childrens?

    Andrew Johnson's childrens is Robert Johnson

  • What is Andrew Johnson's political ideology?

    Andrew Johnson's political ideology is Democratic

  • What is Andrew Johnson's religion?

    Andrew Johnson's religion is Christian

  • Who is Andrew Johnson's father?

    Andrew Johnson's father is Jacob Johnson

  • Who is Andrew Johnson's mother?

    Andrew Johnson's mother is Mary McDonough Johnson

  • What is Andrew Johnson's sun sign?

    Andrew Johnson is Capricorn