Andrew Johnson

Definition

Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States, who assumed the presidency after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865. His presidency was marked by a tumultuous relationship with the Radical Republican-controlled Congress, leading to a decline in legislative influence during his time in office.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Andrew Johnson, a Democrat, became president after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, which led to a clash between the new president and the Radical Republican-controlled Congress.
2. Johnson's policies during Reconstruction were seen as too lenient towards the former Confederate states, leading to a power struggle with Congress over the direction of Reconstruction.
3. The Radical Republicans in Congress sought to limit Johnson's influence and power, leading to his impeachment by the House of Representatives in 1868, though he was later acquitted by the Senate.
4. Johnson's clashes with Congress and his attempts to assert executive power contributed to a decline in legislative influence during his presidency, as Congress sought to curtail the president's authority.
5. The conflict between Johnson and Congress during Reconstruction had long-lasting effects on the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches of government.

Review Questions

• Explain how Andrew Johnson's presidency contributed to the decline of legislative influence as described in the context of 9.4 The Decline of Legislative Influence.
  • Andrew Johnson's presidency was marked by a contentious relationship with the Radical Republican-controlled Congress, leading to a power struggle over the direction of Reconstruction following the Civil War. Johnson's more lenient policies towards the former Confederate states were seen as too accommodating by the Radical Republicans, who sought to limit his influence and authority. This culminated in Johnson's impeachment by the House of Representatives, though he was later acquitted by the Senate. The conflict between the president and Congress during this period contributed to a decline in legislative influence, as the legislative branch sought to curtail the power of the executive branch and assert its own authority.
• Analyze how Andrew Johnson's actions and the resulting conflict with Congress exemplified the tensions between the legislative and executive branches of government during the Reconstruction era.
  • Andrew Johnson's presidency represented a clash between the executive and legislative branches of government during the Reconstruction era. As the newly installed president following Lincoln's assassination, Johnson sought to pursue a more lenient approach towards the former Confederate states, which was at odds with the Radical Republican-controlled Congress. The Radical Republicans, who advocated for more aggressive Reconstruction policies and the extension of civil and political rights to freed slaves, sought to limit Johnson's influence and power. This led to a protracted power struggle, culminating in Johnson's impeachment by the House of Representatives. The conflict between the president and Congress highlighted the inherent tensions between the executive and legislative branches, as they vied for control over the direction of Reconstruction and the balance of power in the federal government.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the conflict between Andrew Johnson and Congress on the relationship between the legislative and executive branches of government.
  • The conflict between Andrew Johnson and the Radical Republican-controlled Congress during Reconstruction had lasting implications for the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches of government. The power struggle, which led to Johnson's impeachment, demonstrated the potential for the legislative branch to assert its authority and limit the influence of the president. This set a precedent for Congress to actively challenge and constrain the executive branch, particularly during times of political division. The lingering effects of this conflict contributed to a decline in legislative influence, as the legislative branch sought to maintain its control over key policy decisions and the direction of the federal government. The Johnson-Congress conflict also highlighted the fragility of the system of checks and balances, and the potential for partisan politics to disrupt the normal functioning of the branches of government. This episode in American history shaped the ongoing dynamics between the legislative and executive branches, and continues to inform discussions about the appropriate boundaries of executive power and congressional oversight.

Related terms

Reconstruction Era: The period following the American Civil War, during which the federal government sought to reintegrate the Confederate states into the Union and determine the status of freed slaves.

Impeachment:

The process by which a legislative body (usually a parliament or congress) brings charges against a civil officer of government for crimes alleged to have been committed while in office.

Radical Republicans: A faction of the Republican Party during the American Civil War and Reconstruction era, who advocated for the aggressive prosecution of the war, the abolition of slavery, and the extension of civil and political rights to freed slaves.