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Presidential Oath
"Vice President Andrew Johnson takes the presidential oath of office in his hotel room at the Kirkwood House following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Cheif Justice Salmon P. Chase oversees the proceeding. Lincoln chose Johnson, a racist and uneducated Southerner from Tennessee, as his Vice President to balance the 1864 ticket."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Andrew Johnson -
Period: to
Andrew Johnson
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Terms too lenient
"Johnson declares that the terms agreed on between Union General William Tecumseh Sherman and Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston are too lenient to the Confederates and orders that they be set aside. Johnston surrenders to Sherman on April 26 on harsher terms."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: William Tecumseh Sherman -
Rewards for arrests
"Johnson issues a proclamation offering rewards for the arrests of Jefferson Davis, Jacob Thompson, and Clement C. Clay, Jr."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Jefferson Davis -
End of Civil War celebrated
" The close of the Civil War is celebrated in Washington, D.C."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Civil War -
White House Residency
"Johnson officially takes residence in the White House."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: White House -
Provisional governors
"Johnson appoints William L. Sharkey as the provisional governor of Mississippi. Over the next few weeks, Johnson appoints provisional governors for Georgia, Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida, and assigns to each the task of overseeing his reconstruction plans in the South."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Willim L. Sharkey -
Black Code
“Mississippi enacts a Black Code, which restricts the newly won rights of African Americans and attempts to keep the freedmen in a separate and inferior position. Throughout December and into 1866, other ex-Confederate states follow suit, enacting their own black codes. The codes of Mississippi and South Carolina prove most stringent.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Black Code -
39th Congress addressed
“Johnson addresses the Thirty-Ninth Congress for the first time with his annual message; Congress had been in recess for the duration of Johnson's presidency. The Republican majority remains suspicious of Johnson and his policies.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Congress today -
Elected officials become new governors
“Johnson orders provisional Governor Sharkey to turn over governorship of Mississippi to his elected successor. Over the next five weeks, Johnson issues similar orders to the provisional governors of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. These newly elected governments are populated with numerous ex-Confederate officials.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Governor Sharkey -
Johnson vetoes bill asking to extend Freedmen's Bureau
“Johnson vetoes a bill calling for the extension of the Freedmen's Bureau. The bill, a response to the repressive black codes of the South, would expand the power of the Bureau, the organization formed for the freedmen's protection.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Freednmen's Bureau -
Radical Republicans denounced as traitors
“Following Congress's attempt to expand the Freedmen's Bureau, Johnson denounces the so-called “Radical Republicans,” specifically Representative Thaddeus Stevens, Senator Charles Sumner, and reformer Wendell Phillips, as traitors. The Radicals, a minority within the party, believe that few white southerners are truly unionist."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Thaddeus Stevens -
Johnson vetoes second attempt
“Johnson vetoes the Civil Rights Act, a second attempt by Congress to provide freedmen with federal citizenship after the failed Freedmen's Bureau bill. The act sanctions the employment of federal troops for enforcement. The Senate overrides Johnson's veto on April 6. Three days later, the House of Representatives also overrides the veto.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Freedmen's Bureau -
Discontent with Johnson
“Unhappy with what it views as Johnson's lenient approach to the South, Congress passes and sends the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution to the states for ratification. Not only does the amendment seek to prevent ex-Confederates from holding office, it also establishes the citizenship of African Americans."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: 14th Amendment -
Cabinet resigns
Occured: throughout all July
“William Dennison, James Speed, and James Harlan, all possessing ties to the “Radical Republicans,” resign from the cabinet. President Johnson replaces them with Republicans who support his policies.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: William Dennison -
Veto overridden
"Congress overrides Johnson's veto of the Freedmen's Bureau Renewal Act."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Freedmen's Bureau -
Tennessee re-admitted to Union
"Congress readmits Tennessee to the Union after the state ratifies the Fourteenth Amendment."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: TN map -
Johnson's speaking tour
“Johnson begins his “swing around the circle” speaking tour of the eastern and midwestern United States. Hoping to gather popular support, he campaigns against several “Radical Republicans” running in the fall congressional elections. He returns to Washington, D.C., on September 15.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: US map -
Republicans thrive
occured: throughout November
“Johnson suffers losses in congressional elections as Radical Republicans score major victories. Northerners are not convinced by the President's assertions that white Southerners are fully remorseful over the Civil War and have become unionist. (During the summer, white rioters in both Memphis and New Orleans attack residents in predominantly black sections of the cities)."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Ku Klux Klan, founded 1865 -
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First Reconstruction Act passed despite veto
“With the 1866 election, Congress (despite Johnson's veto) passes the First Reconstruction Act, setting up five military districts in the South, each under the direction of a presidentially-appointed military commander. The legislative body also passed the Army Appropriations Act, which lessens Johnson's control of the Army. Finally, Congress passes, over Johnson's veto, the Tenure of Office Act."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: 1st page in Reconstruction Act -
Second Reconstruction Act passed depite veto
“Johnson vetoes the Second Reconstruction Act, which orders military commanders to call elections in the South. Congress overrides Johnson's veto that very day.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Original 1st page of Reconstruction Act -
Alaska purchased
“Secretary of State William H. Seward, appointed by Lincoln, agrees to a treaty with Russia allowing the United States to purchase Alaska for $7.2 million. The land purchased is referred to as “Seward's icebox.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Alaska map -
Third Reconstruction Act passed despite veto
“Johnson vetoes the Third Reconstruction Act, which spells out election procedures in the South and reasserts congressional control over Reconstruction. Congress again overrides Johnson's veto on the same day the President delivers it.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: 1st page in originial Reconstruction Act -
Johnson asks Stanton to resign
"Johson asks Secretary of War (and Radical Republican) Edwin Stanton to resign. The two disagree over Reconstruction plans; Stanton refuses."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Edwin Stanton -
Johnson suspends Stanton
"Johnson suspends Secretary Stanton from his position and commissions Ulysses S. Grant as ad interim Secretary of War."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Edwin Stanton -
Johnson defends policies
"In his annual message to Congress, Johnson defends his policies toward the ex-Confederate states."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Congress today -
Suspension reasoning submitted
"Johnson submits his reasons for suspending Secretary Stanton to the Senate."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Senate today -
Senate does not accept Stanton's suspension
"The Senate refuses to concur with Johnson's removal of Stanton."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Senate today -
Johnson replaces Stanton
“Johnson formally removes Stanton and gives control of the War Department to General Lorenzo Thomas. Stanton, however, refuses to adhere to Johnson's decision and barricades himself in his cabinet office for roughly two months. Johnson's actions violate the Tenure of Office Act and begin the impeachment crisis.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: House of Representatives today -
House of Representatives votes to impeach Johnson
“The House of Representatives votes to impeach Johnson, focusing on his breach of the Tenure of Office Act. The 126-47 vote is along party lines.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: House of Representatives today -
Impeachment trial begins
“The Senate begins its impeachment trial. Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase presides.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: the Impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson -
Johnson acquitted by one vote
“The Senate votes 35-19 to convict President Johnson, falling one vote short of the necessary two-third majority. Seven moderate Republicans vote against impeachment. The vote serves as a precedent for standard necessary to convict in impeachment hearings.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Johnson's impeachment trial -
Republican party nominates Grant
"The Republican National Convention meets in Chicago. After declaring Johnson guilty, it nominates national hero General Ulysses S. Grant for President and Schuyler Colfax for vice president. Grant has no political experience."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Ulysses S. Grant -
Johnson's vetoes overridden
occured: throughout June
"“President Johnson vetoes bills that would have readmitted several ex-Confederate states to the Union. Congress overrides these vetoes.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Andrew Johnson -
Burlingame Treaty submitted to Senate
“Johnson submits the Burlingame Treaty between the United States and China to the Senate for approval."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Burlingame Treaty -
Grant wins election
“Republican Presidential candidate General Ulysses S. Grant defeats Democrat Horatio Seymour by only 300,000 votes. With 450,000 black Republican votes, the party becomes convinced that black suffrage is politically necessary.”
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Ulysses S. Grant -
Johnson delivers final message to Congress
"President Johnson delivers his final annual message to Congress, again requesting the repeal of the Reconstruction Acts."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Andrew Johnson -
Grant takes oath of office
"Ulysses S. Grant takes the oath of office as President of the United States. President Johnson refuses to attend the inauguration."
- http://millercenter.org/president/johnson/key-events
photo: Ulysses S. Grant
