Years in Office: 1865 to 1869

Andrew Johnson was President during one of the most difficult periods of our history. The Civil War had left great financial problems in our country. The Union had been saved, but the feelings between the North and South were very bitter. Johnson was not a popular president especially with the Congress and Senate. Impeachment charges were filed against and he was saved by 1 vote, it would have required 36 out of 54 Senate votes to put him out of office and only 35 votes were cast against him.

Andrew Johnson never learned to read until he was 14 years old and his wife taught him to write. He had a talent for public speaking and entered debates held by students at college near his home and with this training he entered politics.

While Johnson was President, we purchased Alaska from Russia, Nebraska entered the Union, the first practical typewriter was invented, and the 13th and 14th Amendments were added to the Constitution. The 13th freed all remaining slaves and the 14th made them citizens of the U.S.