Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States, played a significant role in Black history during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. Johnson became president after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865 and implemented policies that were not favorable to the newly freed African Americans.

Johnson's approach to Reconstruction was lenient towards the former Confederate states and did not adequately protect the rights of newly emancipated Black citizens. He issued pardons to many former Confederates and opposed efforts to provide equal rights and protections for African Americans.

Johnson clashed with the Radical Republicans in Congress who were advocating for more robust protections for Black Americans through measures such as the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Johnson vetoed these initiatives and sought to maintain the status quo in the South, allowing for the imposition of Black Codes and other discriminatory practices that deprived African Americans of their rights and freedoms.

Ultimately, Johnson's opposition to efforts to secure civil rights for African Americans contributed to a tumultuous period in American history known as Reconstruction, characterized by ongoing racial strife and challenges to the progress of Black Americans. Despite his actions, the efforts of Black activists and legislators, along with the passage of the Reconstruction Amendments, helped to pave the way for greater equality and civil rights for African Americans in the years to come.