"Andrew Johnson was a Southerner generally who proclaimed that his native state of Tennessee was a country for white men"
- Stephen Ambrose
About this Quote
In this quote, author Stephen Ambrose is describing the beliefs and background of previous United States President Andrew Johnson. He notes that Johnson was a Southerner, meaning he was from the southern area of the United States. This is significant since throughout Johnson's presidency, the nation was still recovering from the Civil War, which was fought primarily between the northern and southern states. Ambrose also discusses that Johnson announced his home state of Tennessee as a nation for white men. This recommends that Johnson held racist beliefs and believed that Tennessee, and potentially the entire South, must be booked for white people. This quote sheds light on Johnson's views and the racial tensions that existed throughout his time as president.
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