Johnson's Responsibility in Presidential Reconstruction Failure
TITLE
How far was Johnson to blame for the failure of Presidential Reconstruction?
ESSAY
Andrew Johnson played a significant role in the failure of Presidential Reconstruction. As the President who took office after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865, Johnson's approach to Reconstruction differed greatly from that of the Republican-controlled Congress. This divergence in views and policies ultimately led to the downfall of Johnson's Reconstruction efforts.
One of the key issues that highlighted Johnson's failure was his leniency towards Southern war leaders. While Congress wanted a harsher punishment for the Confederacy, Johnson only executed one war leader and imprisoned Jefferson Davis for a relatively short period of two years. This leniency allowed many former Confederate leaders to regain power and influence in the South, hindering the progress of Reconstruction.
Furthermore, Johnson's focus on the white population and disregard for the position of ex-slaves further contributed to the failure of Presidential Reconstruction. Southern states, under Johnson's guidance, passed Black Codes in 1865, which aimed to restrict the rights and freedoms of freedmen. Johnson's assumption that the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment marked the end of Reconstruction demonstrated his lack of understanding of the complexities and challenges faced by the newly emancipated African Americans.
Congress strongly disagreed with Johnson's approach and took matters into their own hands. In 1866, they passed the Civil Rights Act and the Reconstruction Acts, which imposed military rule on the South. Johnson vetoed both of these acts, but Congress overrode his vetoes, highlighting the growing divide between the President and Congress.
Additionally, Johnson's encouragement of states to refuse to approve the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted equal rights to all citizens, further showcased his opposition to the Republican-led Reconstruction efforts. Despite Johnson's resistance, Congress eventually passed the amendment, along with the Fifteenth Amendment, which granted ex-slaves the right to vote.
The strained relationship between Johnson and Congress reached its peak in March 1868 when Congress impeached the President. Although Johnson narrowly escaped punishment by one vote, his impeachment highlighted the deep divisions and animosity between the two branches of government.
While Presidential Reconstruction did manage to keep the union together in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, its shortcomings and Johnson's inability to effectively address the needs and rights of freedmen ultimately led to its failure. The power of abolitionists in Congress, coupled with Johnson's resistance and misguided policies, ensured that Presidential Reconstruction was short-lived and ineffective in achieving lasting change and equality in the South.
SUBJECT
HISTORY
PAPER
AS Level
NOTES
How far was Johnson to blame for the failure of Presidential Reconstruction? Indicative content Andrew Johnson largely oversaw what is known as Presidential Reconstruction. Johnson, who became President on the death of Lincoln in 1865, was a Tennessee Democrat, a Southerner chosen as Vice President in order to attract Democratic voters. The Congress elected in 1864 was solidly Republican, the 1866 Congress even more so. There was a great deal of difference between President and Congress, Democrat and Republican, both in how best to treat the defeated Confederacy as well as which of the two should lead Reconstruction policies. Possible discussions around the issues created by Presidential Reconstruction: • In 1865 Johnson took a softer line towards Southern war leaders than Congress wanted: only one was executed and Jefferson Davis was imprisoned for two years. • Johnson also focused Reconstruction on the white population, ignoring the position of ex-slaves. Thus, Southern states passed Black Codes in 1865. Johnson assumed that with the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, Reconstruction was over. • Congress disagreed and in 1866 it passed a Civil Rights Act protecting the rights of freedmen; it passed the Reconstruction Acts which imposed military rule on the South. Johnson vetoed both only for Congress to override his vetoes. • Congress also passed the Fourteenth Amendment giving equal rights to all, only to find Johnson encouraging states to refuse to approve it. The Amendment was eventually passed while Congress introduced the Fifteenth Amendment giving ex-slaves the vote. • Relations between President and Congress were so bad that, in March 1868, Congress impeached Johnson. He escaped punishment by one vote. • Even though Presidential Reconstruction was short-lived it did succeed in keeping the union together through the first tense days following the end of the Civil War. But the power of abolitionists in Congress could not be held back for long. Accept any other valid responses.