Explore the significant events in the life of Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States. This timeline highlights key moments from his birth in 1808, through his presidency during the turbulent Reconstruction era, to his death in 1875. Learn about his early political career, the challenges he faced during his presidency, his impeachment, and his impact on American history.
In an unusual political comeback, Andrew Johnson was elected as a U.S. Senator from Tennessee, making him the only former president to serve in the Senate after his presidency. Johnson's return to the Senate was a brief one, as he served from March 4 until his death later that year.
President Andrew Johnson was acquitted by the U.S. Senate by just one vote. In the impeachment trial, the Senate fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to convict Johnson and remove him from office. This acquittal allowed him to finish out his term as president.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Andrew Johnson. The impeachment was largely due to his violation of the Tenure of Office Act by removing Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary of War, from his post and attempting to replace him. Johnson was the first American president to be impeached.
Andrew Johnson's attempt to remove Edwin M. Stanton and replace him with Lorenzo Thomas on February 21, 1868, led to the House of Representatives initiating the final impeachment process against him. The act was perceived as a violation of the Tenure of Office Act, setting the stage for the historic impeachment proceedings.
The first attempt to impeach President Andrew Johnson failed in January 1868 when the House of Representatives rejected an impeachment resolution. The resolution had accused Johnson of high crimes and misdemeanors in office, but it did not receive the necessary majority vote.
President Andrew Johnson attempted to remove Edwin M. Stanton from his position as Secretary of War and replaced him with Ulysses S. Grant on an interim basis. This action exacerbated tensions with Congress, leading to significant political conflict that culminated in Johnson's impeachment.
The Reconstruction Act of 1867 was passed by Congress over President Andrew Johnson's veto. This act outlined the process for readmitting Southern states to the Union after the Civil War. It divided the South into five military districts and required states to ratify the 14th Amendment and provide voting rights to black men.
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed by Congress over President Andrew Johnson's veto. This landmark act declared all persons born in the United States as citizens, regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This act was a precursor to the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
During Andrew Johnson's presidency, the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified. This amendment abolished slavery in the United States. Johnson supported the amendment and urged Southern states to ratify it as a way to rejoin the Union after the Civil War.
Following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson was sworn in as the 17th President of the United States. Johnson, a Southern Democrat who had remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War, assumed office during a critical time of national reconstruction.
That's every defining moment so far. New events are added only when the reporting warrants it.
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