After the tragic assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865, his Vice President, Andrew Johnson, became the 17th President of the United States. Johnson, a Democrat from Tennessee, took office in the midst of the Civil War and faced the challenging task of unifying a divided nation.

Andrew Johnson had a tumultuous presidency, marked by conflicts with Congress over Reconstruction policies and his leniency towards the Southern states that had seceded. His impeachment trial in 1868 made him the first President to be impeached, although he was ultimately acquitted by just one vote.

Despite his controversial tenure, Andrew Johnson did make some significant contributions during his time in office. He signed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which granted citizenship and equal rights to all persons born in the United States, regardless of race. He also purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, a move that was initially mocked but later proved to be a valuable acquisition for the United States.

Despite these achievements, Andrew Johnson's presidency is largely remembered for his tumultuous relationship with Congress and his failure to effectively lead the nation during a critical period of reconstruction. His policies and actions have been widely criticized by historians, and he is often ranked as one of the worst Presidents in American history.

If you're interested in learning more about Andrew Johnson and his presidency, you can visit the official White House website for biographical information and historical resources: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/andrew-johnson/. Additionally, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History has a comprehensive online exhibit on the Lincoln assassination and its aftermath: https://americanhistory.si.edu/lincoln-assassination.

In conclusion, Andrew Johnson succeeded Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States after his assassination in 1865. Despite facing numerous challenges and controversies during his presidency, Johnson did leave a lasting impact on American history through his policies and decisions.

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