Jonah Patel
Andrew Johnson (1808-1875) was the President of the United States who opposed the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was designed to put the key provisions of the Civil Rights Act into the Constitution. The Fourteenth Amendment extended citizenship to every person born in the United States, penalized states that did not give the vote to freedmen, and created new federal civil rights that could be protected by federal courts. Johnson's opposition to the Fourteenth Amendment, along with his Reconstruction policies, led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives in 1868, though he was later acquitted.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amendment Number | Fourteenth Amendment |
| Amendment Writer(s) | Trumbull and others |
| Amendment Purpose | To put the key provisions of the Civil Rights Act into the Constitution |
| Amendment Details | Extended citizenship to every person born in the United States (except Indians on reservations), penalized states that did not give the vote to freedmen, created new federal civil rights that could be protected by federal courts, guaranteed the federal debt would be paid, forbade repayment of Confederate war debts, and disqualified many former Confederates from office |
| Opposition | Johnson and the Southerners |
| Opposition Reason | Johnson believed the deadlock would be broken in his favor, leading to his election in 1868 |
| Opposition Compromise | A modified version of the amendment without the disqualification of former Confederates and with limited black suffrage |
| Amendment Status | Ratified by Tennessee and enough states by 1868 |
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What You'll Learn
Johnson opposed the Fourteenth Amendment
Andrew Johnson (1808-1875) was a Jacksonian Democrat who served as US President following Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Johnson opposed the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which was designed to put the key provisions of the Civil Rights Act into the Constitution.
The Fourteenth Amendment extended citizenship to every person born in the United States, except Indians on reservations. It also penalized states that did not give the vote to freedmen, and disqualified many former Confederates from office. Johnson, however, believed that the deadlock over the amendment would be broken in his favour, leading to his election in 1868.
Johnson's opposition to the Fourteenth Amendment stemmed from his belief that it interfered with states' rights. He argued that the amendment was not valid or obligatory upon him and that it infringed on the executive power of the president. Johnson also disagreed with the amendment's provision to grant citizenship to former slaves. He believed that African Americans should have limited suffrage and that the South should agree to a modified version of the amendment without the disqualification of former Confederates.
Johnson's stance on the Fourteenth Amendment was not his only controversial action as president. He also vetoed legislation passed by Congress to protect the rights of those who had been freed from slavery. This clash with Congress culminated in the House of Representatives voting to impeach Johnson on February 24, 1868. Johnson was ultimately acquitted, but his presidency was marked by repeated conflicts with Congress over the reconstruction of the defeated South.
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The Amendment was designed to put the Civil Rights Act into the Constitution
Andrew Johnson was a Jacksonian Democrat who served as the President of the United States and opposed the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Fourteenth Amendment was designed to put the Civil Rights Act into the Constitution. It extended citizenship to every person born in the United States, except Indians on reservations. It also penalized states that did not give the vote to freedmen and created new federal civil rights that could be protected by federal courts.
The Amendment was written by Trumbull and others and sent for ratification by state legislatures, a process in which the president plays no part. Johnson and the Southerners attempted a compromise, whereby the South would agree to a modified version of the amendment without the disqualification of former Confederates and limited black suffrage. However, the Republicans insisted on the full language of the amendment, and the deal fell through. Johnson vetoed the First Reconstruction Act and the Freedmen's Bureau Act, but Congress overrode him.
During his tenure as president, Johnson clashed repeatedly with the Republican-controlled Congress over the reconstruction of the defeated South. He vetoed legislation passed by Congress to protect the rights of those who had been freed from slavery. Johnson's opposition to the Fourteenth Amendment stemmed from his belief that the deadlock over its ratification would be broken in his favor, leading to his election in 1868. However, once Congress reconvened in December 1866, it began passing legislation over his veto, including the District of Columbia voting bill and the admission of Nebraska to the Union.
The Fourteenth Amendment had significant implications for the extension of suffrage and the protection of civil rights. It guaranteed that the federal debt would be paid and forbade repayment of Confederate war debts. The Amendment also disqualified many former Confederates from office, although this disability could be removed by Congress, not the president. While some advocates of women's suffrage objected to the exclusion of women from the amendment, it marked a substantial increase in black male suffrage by 1868.
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It granted citizenship to former slaves
Andrew Johnson (1808-1875) was a Jacksonian Democrat who spent most of his life in Tennessee. Johnson opposed the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted citizenship to former slaves. Johnson's opposition to the Fourteenth Amendment was part of a broader pattern of conflict between the President and Congressional Republicans during his administration.
The Fourteenth Amendment, written by Trumbull and others, was proposed by Congress to the states for ratification. The amendment was designed to enshrine the key provisions of the Civil Rights Act into the Constitution and went even further in protecting the rights of freedmen. In addition to granting citizenship to every person born in the United States (except Indians on reservations), it penalized states that did not give the vote to freedmen, created new federal civil rights that could be protected by federal courts, guaranteed the federal debt would be paid, and forbade repayment of Confederate war debts. The amendment also disqualified many former Confederates from office.
Johnson's opposition to the Fourteenth Amendment was motivated by his belief that the deadlock over ratification would be broken in his favour, leading to his election in 1868. He attempted a compromise with the Southerners, offering to accept a modified version of the amendment without the disqualification of former Confederates and with limited black suffrage. However, the Republicans insisted on the full language of the amendment, and the deal fell through. Johnson vetoed the First Reconstruction Act and the Freedmen's Bureau Act, but Congress overrode his vetoes.
Johnson's actions during his presidency, including his opposition to the Fourteenth Amendment, led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives in 1868. He was acquitted in the Senate, not due to support for his policies but because a sufficient minority wished to preserve the office of the president and maintain the constitutional balance of powers. Johnson's successor, Ulysses S. Grant, supported the Fifteenth Amendment, which guaranteed voting rights to African American males.
In summary, Andrew Johnson opposed the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted citizenship to former slaves, because he believed it would benefit him politically and because of his broader disagreements with Congressional Republicans over the reconstruction of the South. His opposition ultimately contributed to his impeachment, and his successor took a different approach by supporting the Fifteenth Amendment, which further expanded the rights of African Americans.
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Johnson's veto was overridden
Andrew Johnson was a Jacksonian Democrat who served as US President from 1865 to 1869. Johnson opposed the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which gave citizenship to former slaves and created new federal civil rights that could be protected by federal courts. Johnson's opposition to the Fourteenth Amendment and his attempts to block legislation protecting the rights of those freed from slavery led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives on February 24, 1868.
Johnson's veto of the First Reconstruction Act was overridden by Congress on the same day he issued it, March 2, 1867. This set a pattern for the remainder of his presidency, where Congressional Republicans would override his vetoes. Johnson's veto of the Freedmen's Bureau Act, which passed a second time, was also overridden.
Johnson's impeachment trial began in the Senate on March 5, 1868, and concluded on May 16, 1868, with his acquittal. The acquittal was not due to support for Johnson's policies but rather due to a desire to preserve the office of the president and maintain a constitutional balance of powers. Johnson's impeachment was the first of only three presidential impeachments in US history.
Johnson's vetoes and opposition to the Fourteenth Amendment were part of a broader pattern of conflict between the President and Congress over the reconstruction of the defeated South following the Civil War. Johnson's policies, such as his Presidential Reconstruction, were often blocked by Congress, which passed legislation such as the District of Columbia voting bill and admitted Nebraska to the Union over his vetoes.
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Johnson was impeached
Andrew Johnson was the first of only three presidents to be impeached. The impeachment trial took place in 1868, with the House of Representatives voting to impeach Johnson on February 24, and the trial beginning in the Senate on March 5. Johnson was ultimately acquitted, but only because a sufficient minority of senators wished to preserve the office of the president and maintain the constitutional balance of powers.
Articles 4 through 7 of the impeachment charges accused Johnson of conspiring with Thomas to remove Stanton, which was considered a "high crime in office." Article 8 charged Johnson with conspiring to deprive Stanton of his rightful possessions, and Article 9 accused him of diverting orders and instructions related to military operations through the general of the army, bypassing Secretary Stanton. Another article, proposed by Massachusetts representative Benjamin Butler, accused Johnson of making inflammatory speeches with the intent to disgrace Congress. The final article, championed by Thaddeus Stevens, accused Johnson of declaring the 39th Congress unconstitutional since it represented only part of the states and thus lacked the authority to propose amendments to the Constitution.
Johnson's impeachment was the culmination of repeated clashes between the president and the Republican-controlled Congress over the reconstruction of the defeated South following the Civil War. Johnson vetoed legislation passed by Congress to protect the rights of those who had been freed from slavery, including the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted citizenship to former slaves. Johnson's opposition to the Fourteenth Amendment and his own form of Presidential Reconstruction, which allowed Southern states to pass Black Codes depriving freedmen of civil liberties, contributed to the growing conflict between the branches of government.
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Frequently asked questions
Andrew Johnson opposed the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave citizenship to former slaves.
Johnson and the Southerners attempted a compromise, whereby the South would agree to a modified version of the amendment without the disqualification of former Confederates, and for limited black suffrage.
Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives, becoming the first of only three presidents to have been charged. He escaped conviction and removal by a single vote.
