Johnson: The Tailor President

Andrew Johnson’s Childhood -Andrew Johnson was born and raised in North Carolina (He moved to Tennessee later on in his childhood). He led a very humble life compared to any president- even Lincoln. He was raised in poverty and was orphaned at an early age. Johnson never had an education as a child and never attended school. However at the age of ten, he was apprenticed to a tailor. - Soon after being apprenticed, he taught himself how to read, and later on in his life, his wife taught him how to write and do simple arithmetic.

Andrew Johnson’s development in politics When Johnson moved to Tennessee at the age of seventeen, he became active in politics. He represented the poor white people that were against the planter aristocrats, although he owned a couple of slaves himself. He was known as a “two-fisted stump speaker” and had a lot of haters due to his views and living in the South. When elected to Congress, he attracted more attention in the North than the South but refused to secede from the state. He was appointed war governor after Tennessee was partially by the Union armies. Johnson became vice president in 1864 to Lincoln’s presidency to try and attract support from War democrats and pro-Southern elements.

The outcast, yet the president??? Johnson was disliked by many people and was a misfit among the people. These are the reasons why… He did not understand the North He was a Tennessean yet the South distrusted him due to his views He was a Democrat that was never accepted by the Republican party He was a president who was never actually elected into office… he did not belong in a Republican white house.

OCPVL: “This little boy would persist in handling books above his capacity And this was the disastrous result.” (Andrew Johnson Political Cartoon)

OCPVL: “This little boy would persist in handling books above his capacity and this was the disastrous result.” (Andrew Johnson Political Cartoon) Origins: Created by Thomas Nast in New York City on March 21, 1868 Content: In the two panel political cartoon, it depicts President Johnson standing on top of the ladder reaching for a heavy book on the top shelf called the Constitution of U.S. Soon after, he falls off the ladder and becomes crushed by the book. Purpose: To show how the American people viewed President Johnson. Values: During his presidency, a majority of the US population strongly disliked Andrew Johnson due to his political views on the 14th amendment. They deemed him as one of the worst presidents ever. This political cartoon gave people a better understanding of Johnson’s position during his presidency and an insight to why he may have been impeached. Limitations: It doesn’t illustrate why Johnson couldn’t handle the US Constitution.

OCPVL: “This little boy would persist in handling books above his capacity and this was the disastrous result.” (Andrew Johnson Political Cartoon) Format: Primary; Political Cartoon Author: Thomas Nast, an editorial cartoonist for the magazine Harper’s Weekly Time: March 21, 1868 Place: New York City, New York Background: A mass majority of the American people believed that Johnson could not lead the nation anymore.

Questions How could President Johnson have responded to him being a Democrat president in a Republican White House rather than just vetoing every bill? Explain your reasoning. Explain why Abraham Lincoln elected Andrew Johnson as his Vice President.