Who succeeded Lincoln as president?
please help me!
4 Answers | Add Yours
Andrew Johnson succeeded Abraham Lincoln.
"With the Assassination of Lincoln, the Presidency fell upon an old-fashioned southern Jacksonian Democrat of pronounced states' rights views. Although an honest and honorable man, Andrew Johnson was one of the most unfortunate of Presidents. Arrayed against him were the Radical Republicans in Congress, brilliantly led and ruthless in their tactics. Johnson was no match for them."
Many people in Congress also believed that Johnson would subscribe to their ideals since Johnson was raised in the South and abhorred the social hierarchy of the south in which Plantation owners controlled most of the land as well as the politics of the south. Congress wanted to see the South punished for their "disloyalty" to the Union and hoped that Johnson would back their Radical Reconstruction plans. These congressman were referred to as "Radical Republicans".
Johnson however, surprised these Radical Republicans by supporting Lincoln's more moderate reconstruction plan. Because of this, he made many enemies in congress and was the first president to be impeached by Congress. During his trial however, many members of Congress realized that Johnson wasn't being accused of "high crimes and misdemeanors" as defined by the Constitution. He was merely guilty of a differing of political opinion.
With the Assassination of Lincoln, the Presidency went to Andrew Johnson.
Join to answer this question
Join a community of thousands of dedicated teachers and students.Join eNotes