| |
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site honors the life and work of the
nation's 17th President and preserves his two homes, tailor shop, and grave
site. Andrew Johnson's life exemplifies many struggles faced by Americans
today. He worked his way from tailor to President. He stood strong for his
ideals and beliefs. His presidency, from 1865 - 1869, illustrates the United
States Constitution at work following Lincoln's assassination and during
attempts to reunify a nation that had been torn by civil war. His work helped
shape the future of the United States and his influences continue today.
His roll in local and state government served well to prepare him for the
critical issues he would face in his future career. He would be the only
southern Senator to remain in Congress at the outbreak of the Civil War.
President Lincoln would appoint him to be Military Governor of Tennessee
and later select him as his running mate in 1864. After assuming the presidency,
he risked removal from office in order to protect the human rights of citizens
of the defeated states. He remains the only former President to return and
serve in the US Senate.
The tailor shop, two houses, and the burial place of the 17th president
of the United States are preserved. Apprenticed to a tailor during his youth,
Andrew Johnson came to Greeneville from his native Raleigh, NC, in 1826.
After years of service in local, state, and federal governments, Senator
Johnson chose to remain loyal to the Union when Tennessee seceded. After
serving as military governor of Tennessee, Johnson was elected vice president
in 1864. On April 15, 1865, he became president following the assassination
of Abraham Lincoln. Continued opposition to the radical program of Reconstruction
led to his impeachment in 1868. Acquitted by the Senate, he continued to
serve as president until 1869. In 1875, Andrew Johnson became the only former
president to be elected to the US Senate.
|
|