Similarities Between Abraham Lincoln And Andrew Johnson

Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth president of the United States. Lincoln has made one of the biggest impacts in United States History by saving the Union during the American Civil War and emancipating the slaves. Lincoln has always been considered anti-slavery, though he seemed to become more of an abolitionist as his term went by. Unfortunately, Lincoln was assassinated in a drama theatre in 1865. This formed many issues because the president after Lincoln was a southerner named Andrew Johnson. Johnson did not execute Lincoln’s plans correctly and did not understand his visions. Lincoln had solutions to many issues that Johnson did not know about. On top of that President Johnson was not a man who was greatly liked. Although Lincoln was

not perfect by any means. Lincoln’s views and beliefs led to a split in the Republican Party which was extremely consequential after his death.
Even though Abraham Lincoln was known for being an Emancipator, he did not publicly call for emancipation in the earlier years of his life. In the beginning, he stated that he was antislavery. Meaning that Lincoln was against slavery’s expansion. Even though he claimed to be antislavery, he never called for instantaneous emancipation. This was a little odd. However, he did eventually call for the Emancipation Proclamations, which freed all of the slaves in the states that were in a rebellious stage. After this, Lincoln full-heartedly supported the 13th Amendment. The 13th Amendment is what abolished slavery in the United States. After slavery would be abolished, Lincoln had set a new goal to extend the right to vote to African Americans. Lincoln died before this happened though. During his life-time, Lincoln’s hatred for slavery increased. His hatred started small but it grew into a strong will and Lincoln wanted to make a change.
Lincoln had good intentions and ideas, but it resulted to a split in the Republican Party.

In the start of 1860, sectional dilemmas disputing over the topic of the expansion of slavery into territories that splintered in Northern and Southern factions after the Democratic Party left. Because of this the Northern Democrats decided to recommend Stephen Douglas. They chose Stephen Douglas because his campaigned highlighted the use of compromise to prevent disunion. However, the Southern Democrats recommend John C. Breckenridge. Every republican backed up Abraham Lincoln and his decision to prohibit the expansion of slavery into new territories. He also prohibited implementing several economic policies created to revitalize Northern industry. Once the Democrats expressed divided opposition, the Republican Party then obtained enough electoral votes to insert Lincoln into the White House with minimal support from the South. For these reasons, the North and South did not get along well, which caused a split in the Republican

Party.
Unfortunately, this was consequential after Lincoln’s death.

Shortly after the Civil War, there were multiple plans offered for reconstruction in the nation. This probably would have been different if Lincoln had not been assassinated. Once Lincoln was assassinated, it left Andrew Johnson as president. Johnson was a former slave owner as well as a southerner. He also had no college education and was in a vulnerable state. Many wondered how Johnson was going to live up to Lincoln’s plans and aspirations. After the Civil War, congress was taken over by an organization known as the Radical republicans. The Radicals listened to Lincoln because he had proposed a reconstruction plan that looked to treat the South badly. These radicals looked at reconstruction as an opportunity to discipline the South. Lincoln, if he had survived, would have been able to command the Radical Republicans with his traditional wisdom. However, due to his death, there was no one to take the place of a leader. Seeing as Johnson was a southerner created an enormous irony. The radical Republicans despised President Johnson even before he was president. Johnson attempted to create a plan similar to Lincolns but congress was not impressed. Johnson was not a man who held strong positive relationships. He was hated and unfit to be president. Because of Lincoln’s untimely death, Johnson created bad relationships and effected many of Lincoln’s ideals and

plans.
Overall, Lincoln began as a normal antislavery president but his hatred grew stronger for slavery and he decided to make extreme changes about it. However, not everybody agreed with Lincoln and his views created a big split within the Republican Party. This was bad news after Lincoln’s assassination. Johnson was not a good fit to take over for president. He was not a man who made good impressions but he tried to create a plan that was similar to Lincolns. Congress scoffed at Johnson, leaving Lincoln’s plans to assist African Americans looking weak and unpromising. Lincoln had great ideas and effects; yet, his slaughter left the presidency in vulnerable Johnson’s hands. This was the consequence of Lincoln’s death.