Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson was—and is—an American paradox. He never attended school, yet fought for public education. He was a Southern slaveholder who opposed secession and enforced emancipation. Born into poverty, he became the 17th president of the United States—and the first U.S. president to be impeached.

This new volume thoroughly examines the troubled career of our most unpopular president—not to resuscitate his reputation, but because his personal contradictions reflected those of his country: a democratic nation conceived in liberty, yet existing half slave and half free; an economy of yeoman farmers and independent artisans being swept into industrialization and a market system; a country fond of tradition, but caught up in social, economic, and political revolution.

This A-Z encyclopedia provides carefully selected entries covering the people, events, and concepts relevant to Andrew Johnson's life.

Library Journal

This biographical guide to the life of Andrew Johnson consists of an introductory eight-page biographical sketch, over 180 encyclopedic articles, historical documents, a chronology, and a bibliography. The main part of the book consists of the articles, which are arranged alphabetically from "Alabama Claims" to "Wirz, Henry" and average 1000-2000 words, though some run much longer. Each article includes references to other articles in the work and to outside sources, especially The Papers of Andrew Johnson, edited by the same authors, both of whom have worked for years on the former President's papers. The articles are well written and concisely explain each subject. Overall, the book depicts Johnson as a self-educated man whose unwillingness to compromise his principles led him into conflict with Congress over Reconstruction. Not for the casual reader, this would be a worthy addition wherever there is more than cursory interest in Johnson and is essential for major research libraries. Lawrence R. Maxted, Gannon Univ., Erie, PA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.\