Topic: President Andrew Johnson
President Andrew Johnson's legacy in Black history is primarily a negative one. Johnson, who became president after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865, was a staunch supporter of states' rights and opposed many of the civil rights advances that had been made during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War.
Johnson's Reconstruction policies were seen as lenient towards the Southern states and failed to protect the rights of newly freed Black Americans. He opposed efforts to grant equal rights and protections to African Americans, and his actions often undermined the progress made towards racial equality during the Reconstruction period.
One of Johnson's most controversial decisions was his consistent vetoing of civil rights legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Freedmen's Bureau Bill, which were aimed at providing legal protections and assistance to newly freed slaves. His actions contributed to the growing tensions between the North and South during the tumultuous period of Reconstruction.
Overall, Andrew Johnson's presidency is remembered in Black history for his resistance to efforts to advance civil rights and equality for African Americans during a critical period of rebuilding and transition in the United States.