Andrew Johnson Short Biography

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Andrew Johnson was born in North Carolina to an indigent family, most of which were extremely uneducated and could not read or write. Through years of self-teaching, and with a little help along the way from some friends, Johnson became an adequate speaker and writer. Although, from his background, no one would ever guess that Johnson would eventually rise to one of the most powerful positions in the government, and become the 17 President of the United States of America. Johnson was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on December 29, 1808 (Winston 3). He was raised in impecuniousness by his mom, Mary McDonough, since his dad, Jacob Johnson died when he was only 3 years old. His mom was having trouble making ends meet so she apprenticed her son …show more content…
Before long he saw a fortuity, there was an auction for a small bit of property which Johnson paid around $1,000 to acquire. Once they settled into their new home, Johnson opened his own tailoring shop and summarily began to work with an idiosyncrasy of a laboring man.
“Over the door of this shop Andy nailed a sign which reads as follows: ‘A. JOHNSON TAILOR.’ Located under his own vine and fig tree, Andy strove harder than ever in the work of his trade. Every garment must be a perfect, there must be no dissatisfied customer; the Andrew Johnson brand of clothes was to become a guarantee of good workmanship.” (Wiston
…show more content…
Johnson’s shop became the town meeting spot for political debates and discussions. Johnson even hired someone to read news reports and congressional speeches aloud in his shop. Astonishingly n 1829 Johnson was nominated and elected alderman of Greenville, despite the pertinacious attempts of the aristocrats to daunt him. Although one would expect Johnson’s paucity of education would be debilitating, Johnson remarkably was elected the second time, as well as the third time. He ultimately ended up with the position of Mayor of the town, announcing himself Democratic and holding this office for three consecutive periods. (Winston 23) The next step for Johnson was to be a member of the United States House of Representatives. Johnson was elected into the House of Representatives in 1843 and served until 1853. Then in 1853 he became the governor of Tennessee; he also won the election in 1855. Johnson was elected into the senate in 1857. He was a relentless campaigner, and an unparalleled speaker. He was intelligent and gallant, furthermore he was a reliable proponent of “Jacksonian democracy and the champion of the 'plebeians’ (the small farmers and tradesmen of Tennessee) against the ‘stuck-up aristocrats’ (the wealthy, slave-holding planter class)”

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