This blog is a digital forum to discuss the link between history and the people, events, and ideas shaping our world.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
There is a reason Andrew Johnson is not on the 5 dollar bill...
Andrew Johnson was a wolf in sheep clothing. As the vice president to Lincoln people generally thought that he would act similar or have similar polices. When Johnson become president he became the champion of the South. Johnson's 1st proclamation conferred amnesty and pardon, including all restoration of all property, except slaves. By 1866 he had pardoned over 7000 former confederate officials and wealthy supporters. Johnson single handily slowed and ruined reconstruction. Johnson allowed his appointed Governors the most unpresidented patronage ever, for every state and local office stood empty. This allowed several former confederate supporters (sometimes officers) to reenter the political scene, thus Johnson's reconstruction empowered prominate whites to shape the transiton from slavery to freedom and define blacks civil rights. Johnson was terrible for the reconstruction period and should be ashamed to serve as vice president as the same time that Lincoln did.
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