What were some of Andrew Johnson's accomplishments?

Answer 1

He is credited with the passage of the Homestead Act.

Answer 2

President: Andrew Johnson (1808 - 1875)

Term: April 15, 1865 - March 4, 1869

Background: Johnson never attended school, but he was put into an apprenticeship at the age of 16. He ran away to Greeneville, Tennessee and worked as a tailor. Johnson took part in debates at the academy in Greeneville, Tennessee. He then formed a workingman's party and he was elected as alderman in 1829. Johnson then was elected to become a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 1st district from March 4, 1843 to March 3, 1853. He was mostly attracted to states' rights and the Democratic views, allowing him to become a speaker for yeomen farmers against the wealthy. Johnson then became the 17th Governor of Tennessee and was in office from October 17, 1853 to November 3, 1857. Later, he became United States Senator from October 8, 1857 to March 4, 1862. From March 12, 1862 to March 4, 1865, Johnson was Military Governor of Tennessee. He was also the 16th Vice President of the United States from March 4, 1865 to April 15, 1865 and then became the 17th president.

Political Party: Democratic, National Union

Vice-President: none

Major Domestic Policy: Johnson became president right after the assassination of president Lincoln. He had to take control of the country and continue the reconstruction. A more severe plan was created and took over the job of Lincoln's ten percent plan. Now, in order for the states to regain their seats in Congress, they had to ratify the thirteenth and fourteenth amendments. This plan didn't work out as planned due to the fact that only Tennessee passed the Fourteenth Amendment, forcing the South to provide civil and equal rights to the African Americans. From the rest of the states not passing the amendment, each state's land was separated into five military districts and a general had authority of each district. Order was then established with this idea. The government then passed black codes and created Jim Crow laws in order to inhibit the freedmen from voting. The fifteenth amendment was then passed, and states were now forced to consent African American suffrage. However, many groups in the south, such as the Ku Klux Klan, the Knights of the White Camellia, the Order of the White Rose and others attempted to prevent blacks from voting. At the end Johnson's presidency, Congress grew frustration towards his ideas and impeached him. A trial was held and thirty-five Senators voted guilty, while nineteen voted not guilty. Since the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority was needed for a guilty verdict in his impeachment trials, Johnson was found not guilty. The Tenure of Office Act was established on March 2, 1867, which denied the President of the United States the authority to take out people who had been appointed by the previous President unless the new President gets approval from the Senate. Also passed is the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, which put end slavery and the Fourteenth Amendment was passed in 1868, which extended legal and political rights.

Major Foreign Policy: The United States mostly was focused on repairing the nation from the aftermath of the Civil War. Also, the United States now knew that they had to take a different approach when trying to annex land, especially after the mess with Cuba and the Lecompton Constitution. The Secretary of State William H. Seward bought Alaska from the Russian czar in 1867. This was not such a popular purchase because everybody saw it as spending 7.2 million dollars on "Seward's Icebox." Later, people's views of Alaska changed when gold was discovered on the Klondike and Alaska eventually paid for itself.

Court Case:

• Cummings v. Missouri (1866)-Stated that oath laws from both state and national level were unconstitutional.

• Mississippi v. Johnson (1866)-Held that the judicial branch had now power to intervene with the performances of the Presidents duties.

• Georgia v. Stanton (1867)-Stated that Georgia's issue was political and not person's or property, and that the problem was out of the judicial branch's hands.

• Ex parte McCardle (1868)-Authenticated that the Congress may remove jurisdiction from the courts.

• Texas v. White (1868)-Held that Texas had the right to bring a suit to court, and that it was still a state.

Intellectual and Social Developments:

• The U.S. Sanitary Commission and American Red Cross are formed.

• Slaves were free due to the passage of the 13th Amendment, but were still having trouble when dealing with control of their land.

• Ives W. McGaffney in Chicago invented the Vacuum cleaner in 1868 with the brand "Whirlwind." It was the first manually powered device used to clean.

• The tape measure was invented in 1868 by Alvin J. Fellows on July 14, 1868 in Connecticut and was made out of cloth, plastic, fiberglass, or metal.

Johnson's Legacy: Andrew Johnson is remembered to be the worst president to serve after the Civil War. He was unable to heal the wounds of the Civil War in order to help progress the United States. Johnson was a very stubborn man who did not take the political realities seriously. He will also be known for his absurd racisms and the way that he did not fight for the civil rights of blacks. This caused a failure of reconstruction after the civil war. Historians have wondered what the difference would have been for black's rights if Lincoln had still been serving as president if it weren't for his untimely death. Johnson will be known for his strict constructionist beliefs toward the Constitution and his belief in the separation of powers, but he will also be known for his inability to work well with Congress. As President, he vetoed many bills, causing him to expand the president's power. Johnson was the first President to be impeached, but was seen as not guilty during his trials.

Answer 3

• Mayor of Greenville, TN at 22
• Served in the Tennessee House of representatives
• Elected Tennessee State Senator
• Was a US Representative
• Was governor of Tennessee
• Military Governor of Tennessee
• During his Presidency, bought Seward's Folly (Alaska) from Russia for $7.2 million.

Answer 4

One of his accomplishments would be buying Alaska from the Russions

Answer 5

His greatest accomplishment is said to be the purchase of Alaska in 1867.

Answer 6

Forced the French out of Mexico

Negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia

Answer 7

He was the VP under Lincoln during the civil war. Became president when Lincoln died and served in the senate.

Answer 8

He was the 7th president.