[USA] - 17th President of the USA Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson	Birth: 29 December 1808
	Died: 31 July 1875
	Party: National Uniont
	Presidency: 1865 ~ 1869
	Vice President: None
	Nickname: Tennessee Tailor

 

● Seward’s Folly – Alaska Purchase

On 1867, the William Seward who was the Secretary of State negotiated and finalized the deal to purchase Alaska from the Russian government for 7.2million dollars. Along with conflicts with the Andre Johnson administrative, politics and people would mock William Seward and Andrew Johnson together.

 

 

This purchase was called the ‘Seward’s folly’, ‘ Seward’s Icebox’ or even ‘Andrew Johnson’s polar bear garden’ as Alaska was considered a wasteland during these times.

However, Alaska’s value was proven after a not long of a time. Gold miners during the Klondike Gold Rush which was a migration around the end of 1800’s in the Klondike region found gold on the shores of Alaska.

 

 

Considering the resources, political and strategic importance of Alaska, William Seward’s Alaska Purchase was a great success to be noted among the history of the United States of America.

 

● Amnesty Act

Abraham Lincoln won the Civil War but it was Andrew Johnson’s responsibility to reunite and stich the wounds of the American Union. Andrew Johnson offered an amnesty to participants of the ‘rebellion’.

The ‘Granting full pardon and amnesty to all persons engaged in the late rebellion’ which is also known as the Amnesty Act restored citizenships of the Southern Americans by a simple oath

 

 

However still, certain ‘class’ of people weren’t subjected to the initial amnesty proclamations. (There were several amnesty granted but Andrew Johnson was to first to grant amnesty to participants after the war).

Later on, during the Amnesty Act of 1872, most of the former people of the Confederate States restored their status except for rights to apply for specific positions such as the heads of departments or foreign ministers.

However, many Republicans objected to the amnesties granted as Democrats would gain more political power by the support of the Southern states and Republicans thought that the seceders of the south should have been punished more for their actions.

 

 

● Ku Klux Klan(KKK)

The Ku Klux Klan was and is the most representative racist group in the history of the United States of America. After the Civil War, many southerners resisted violently to the Thirteenth Amendment and the anti-slavery policies.

Those who participated in the Civil War with such radical beliefs would form violent para-military terrorist like groups and terror African-Americans.

 

 

The Ku Klux Klan was one of the most radical and persistent groups that exists even till now which was formed in 1866 Pulaski, Tennessee.

The pointed white hoods and robes are one of the most symbolic clothing of the KKK. Over the year, the idiom of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) did constantly deteriorate over time.

 

 

● Thirteenth Amendment

The 13th Amendment was ratified on December 1865. The Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln liberated a slave under certain conditions; however the Thirteenth Amendment freed all slaves of the United States.

Now the African Americans were given basic citizenships, however the sudden release of so many people and the oppositions of the southerners from the former slavery states would caused man social conflicts.

 

 

● Hiram K. Revels

Although it would take more than a decade that African-American and colored people could receive racial equality, the efforts by the Republicans significantly improved rights for colored people.

 

 

In 1870, Hiram K. Revels became the first ever African-American to be elected for Senate.

This was a remarkable remark as the former senator of Mississippi was Jefferson Davis. Even in the southern states, between 1869 and 1877, a total of 16 African-Americans were elected to run for congress.

 

 

● Impeachment Crisis

As Andrew Johnson vetoed several laws, conflict with the Republicans who had the majority of the seats worsened.

The Republicans were able to overrun Andrew Johnson’s veto as they had enough votes and seats to overthrow Andrew Johnson’s veto but they weren’t satisfied with Andrew Johnson’s behavior toward the southern states.

 

 

However, as Andrew Johnson removed Secretary of War Edwin M Stanton from office, the Republicans were so furious that they responded by attempting impeachment of Andrew Johnson.

Edwin M. Stanton was one of the leading politician of the Republicans which made the situation worse.

 

Edwin M. Stanton

 

The House of Representatives voted (126-47) for the impeachment of Andrew Johnson accusing him for violating the ‘Tenure of Office Act’.

The Tenure of Office Act was one of the acts that Andrew Johnson vetoed but passed by the majority of the Republicans that restricted the president’s authority to remove government officials without the consent by the senate.

 

 

Although Andrew Johnson’s actions weren’t as foul for such impeachment, his conflict with the Republicans ended up with one of the most embarrassing moments of his life.

On 16th May, 1868, Andrew Johnson evaded from becoming the first president to be removed from office by impeachment as only one vote was short (35-19) on the final vote count. However, his political career was over.