Andrew Johnson was a man with whom nearly every American can relate, from the poorest to the wealthiest. With unyielding determination, he rose from dire circumstances to the nation's most prestigious office without having attended a single day of school. Click here for an overview of Johnson's life.

TIMELINE
View a timeline of Andrew Johnson's life and political career.

ANDREW JOHNSON AND SLAVERY
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RECONSTRUCTION
"...there is no such thing as reconstruction. These States have not gone out of the Union, therefore reconstruction is unnecessary. I do not mean to treat them as inchoate States, but merely as existing under a temporary suspension of their government, provided always they elect loyal men. The doctrine of coercion to preserve a State in the Union has been vindicated by the people. It is the province of the Executive to see that the will of the people is carried out in the rehabilitation of the rebellious States, once more under the authority as well as the protection of the Union." Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson and Congress were unable to agree on a plan for restoring the ravaged country following the Civil War. There was a marked difference between Congressional Reconstruction - outlined in the first, second, and third Military Reconstruction Acts - and Andrew Johnson's plan for Presidential Restoration. The Congressional Plan of Reconstruction was ultimately adopted, and it did not end until 1877. Many of the issues surrounding Reconstruction are still a part of society today.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
The structure of American society changed radically with the Civil War. Four million slaves were now free people. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the United States Constitution attempted to deal with this enormous change in the country.

The 13th Amendment
The 14th Amendment
The 15th Amendment

THE VETO PRESIDENT
Andrew Johnson vetoed more bills introduced by Congress than any other President before him. See a list of some of the bills Andrew Johnson vetoed.

IMPEACHMENT
Andrew Johnson was the first American president to be impeached. Learn more about impeachment here:

Impeachment Defined

Impeachment Pronounced

Why was Andrew Johnson Impeached?

The Articles of Impeachment

Tickets Issued per Day

Andrew Johnson's Impeachment Timeline

How the Senators Voted

AMNESTY PROCLAMATIONS
Andrew Johnson granted four Amnesty Proclamations to the South following the Civil War. Anyone excluded in the first amnesty plans could appeal directly to the President for a pardon. On Christmas day, 1868, Andrew Johnson granted full amnesty to the former Confederates, including Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSES
During Andrew Johnson's administration, the United States purchased Alaska, annexed Midway Island, and communicated with Europe following the completion of a successful Transatlantic Cable. The British Novelist Charles Dickens and Queen Emma of the Sandwich Islands both paid visits to the White House. Andrew Johnson was also the first President to hold the Easter Egg Roll at the White House, and when he turned 60, he invited 300 children to the White House for his birthday party.