What political party did Andrew Johnson belong to? The Surprising Truth Behind His Party Switches, Impeachment, and Why Historians Still Debate His Legacy Today

By emily-zhang · February 8, 2024

Why Andrew Johnson’s Political Party Identity Still Matters Today

What political party did Andrew Johnson belong to? That simple question opens a complex door into Reconstruction politics, constitutional crisis, and the fragility of party loyalty in times of national rupture. While many assume he was a lifelong Democrat—or perhaps a Republican—Johnson’s actual partisan journey defies easy labels. He served as a Democrat, then as a "National Union" candidate alongside Lincoln in 1864, briefly aligned with anti-Radical factions post-1865, and ultimately governed as a de facto independent—alienating nearly every major faction. Understanding his shifting allegiances isn’t just academic trivia; it reveals how party identity can fracture under moral, regional, and ideological pressure—and why modern political polarization has deep, often misunderstood, historical roots.

From Tennessee Jacksonian to Lincoln’s Running Mate: The Democratic Years (1820s–1864)

Andrew Johnson began his political career as a staunch Jacksonian Democrat—a populist, pro-states’ rights, anti-bank, and pro-union (but pro-slavery) figure who rose from tailor’s apprentice to U.S. Senator via fierce oratory and alignment with Andrew Jackson’s vision. Elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1835, then governor (1853–1857), and finally U.S. Senator (1857–1862), Johnson consistently identified as a Democrat. His record reflected core Democratic tenets of the era: opposition to federal infrastructure spending, support for the Fugitive Slave Act, and defense of Southern labor systems—even as he remained a vocal Unionist when secession loomed.

His loyalty to the Union during the Civil War made him uniquely valuable to President Lincoln. In 1864, with reelection uncertain and the war still raging, Lincoln sought to broaden his coalition beyond Republicans. He chose Johnson—a Southern Democrat who had refused to join the Confederacy—as his running mate on the newly formed National Union Party ticket. This wasn’t a merger; it was a wartime branding exercise designed to signal unity. Crucially, Johnson never renounced the Democratic Party—he simply ran under a temporary, expedient banner. As historian Annette Gordon-Reed notes, “The National Union label was less a party than a life raft thrown to loyal Southerners and conservative War Democrats.”

The Fracture: Post-Lincoln, Pre-Impeachment (1865–1867)

When Lincoln was assassinated in April 1865, Johnson became president—and immediately stepped into a partisan abyss. Though nominally representing the National Union coalition, he quickly reverted to Democratic instincts: vetoing civil rights legislation, pardoning ex-Confederates en masse, and opposing Black suffrage and land redistribution. By late 1865, his policies alienated not only Radical Republicans but also moderate Republicans and even many War Democrats who supported Reconstruction safeguards.

His 1866 “Swing Around the Circle” speaking tour—intended to rally public support—backfired spectacularly. He engaged in undignified shouting matches with hecklers, accused Congress of treason, and defended ex-Confederate leaders. Newspapers across the North declared him “unfit for office.” The Republican-controlled Congress responded by passing the Civil Rights Act of 1866, overriding his veto—the first major civil rights law in U.S. history—and later the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, which placed the South under military rule and required new state constitutions guaranteeing Black voting rights.

Johnson vetoed every Reconstruction bill. He fired cabinet secretaries who complied with the Tenure of Office Act—a law passed specifically to constrain him—and replaced them with loyalists. His actions didn’t just break norms—they triggered the first impeachment inquiry in U.S. history. By early 1868, he stood alone: rejected by Republicans, disowned by mainstream Democrats (who feared association with his failures), and increasingly isolated even among former allies.

The Impeachment Trial and the Collapse of Party Identity

Johnson’s impeachment in February 1868 was rooted in his violation of the Tenure of Office Act—but symbolically, it represented the collapse of any coherent party framework around him. The House voted 126–47 to impeach; seven Republican senators broke ranks to acquit him by a single vote. Notably, those seven—including Edmund G. Ross of Kansas and James W. Grimes of Iowa—were not Democrats. They were Republicans who believed impeachment was a dangerous precedent, not a partisan coup.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party officially distanced itself. At its 1868 convention, the party nominated Horatio Seymour—not Johnson—for president. Johnson campaigned independently in some states, endorsing Seymour but refusing to fully endorse the Democratic platform. His post-presidency (1869–1875) saw him re-elected to the Senate in 1875—the only former president to serve in Congress after leaving office—but he did so as a Democrat once more, having reconciled with Tennessee’s Democratic establishment. His final Senate speech, delivered weeks before his death, defended states’ rights and warned against “centralized power”—echoing his earliest Jacksonian principles.

What Political Party Did Andrew Johnson Belong To? A Comparative Timeline

Years	Role/Context	Declared Affiliation	Key Actions & Notes
1829–1862	TN State Rep → Gov → U.S. Senator	Democratic Party	Championed Jacksonian democracy; supported slavery expansion; opposed Whig economic nationalism.
1864	Lincoln’s VP candidate	National Union Party (coalition label)	No formal party switch; ran as a War Democrat under bipartisan wartime banner. Retained Democratic Senate seat until March 1862.
1865–1868	President of the United States	De facto independent (no party support)	Vetoed 29 bills (most by any 19th-c. president); expelled from both GOP and Democratic caucuses; no party endorsed his policies.
1868–1875	Private citizen, then U.S. Senator (1875)	Democratic Party (reaffirmed)	Rejoined TN Democratic leadership; elected to Senate on Democratic ticket; died in office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Andrew Johnson a Republican?

No—Johnson was never a Republican. Though he ran with Abraham Lincoln on the National Union ticket in 1864, that was a temporary, wartime coalition. He opposed the Republican Party’s Reconstruction agenda fiercely and was impeached by a Republican-led Congress. His ideology, policy preferences, and lifelong alliances were rooted in Jacksonian Democracy—not Republicanism.

Why did Lincoln choose a Democrat as his running mate?

Lincoln sought national unity during the Civil War. By selecting Johnson—a Southern Unionist Democrat—he signaled inclusivity, appealed to War Democrats and border-state voters, and reinforced the message that the Union cause transcended party lines. It was a strategic, not ideological, alliance.

Did Andrew Johnson have any party support during his presidency?

Effectively, no. By 1866, he had lost the support of Radical and Moderate Republicans alike. Most War Democrats abandoned him after his 1866 tour and vetoes. Even conservative newspapers like the New York World criticized his conduct. He governed without a functional party base—a unique situation in U.S. presidential history.

What happened to the National Union Party after 1864?

The National Union Party dissolved after Lincoln’s 1864 victory. It was never a formal, organized party with bylaws or local chapters—it was an electoral brand used solely for wartime unity. By 1868, all former National Union members had realigned: Republicans reclaimed their identity, and War Democrats either joined the GOP temporarily or returned to the Democratic fold.

How did Johnson’s party affiliation affect Reconstruction?

Profoundly. His Democratic allegiance led him to prioritize rapid Southern restoration over civil rights protections. His vetoes of the Freedmen’s Bureau Bill and Civil Rights Act forced Congress to override him—and catalyzed the Radical Republican takeover of Reconstruction policy. Without his partisan resistance, the 14th and 15th Amendments might have faced far less opposition—and Southern Black political participation could have taken root earlier.

Common Myths

Myth #1: “Andrew Johnson was a Republican because he succeeded Lincoln.”
False. Johnson retained his Democratic identity throughout his vice presidency and early presidency. His alliance with Lincoln was situational—not ideological—and he clashed violently with the Republican majority within months of taking office.

Myth #2: “The National Union Party was the precursor to the modern Republican Party.”
Incorrect. The National Union label was a one-election branding strategy. The Republican Party continued uninterrupted—and grew stronger after 1864. The National Union had no structure, platform, or legacy beyond the 1864 campaign.

Conclusion & Next Step

So—what political party did Andrew Johnson belong to? The answer isn’t singular. He was a Democrat by origin and return, a National Union nominee by circumstance, and a president without a party by consequence. His story reminds us that party labels are living constructs—shaped by crisis, ambition, and principle—and that leadership without coalition is governance without foundation. If you’re researching Reconstruction, teaching U.S. history, or designing a civics curriculum, don’t stop at the label. Dig into the tensions behind it. Next step: Download our free Reconstruction Era Teaching Kit—including primary source analysis worksheets on Johnson’s vetoes, the 14th Amendment debates, and comparative party platforms from 1864–1876.