Happy Birthday President Andrew Johnson!

 VOA Learning English: America's President--Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson (December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875) was the 17th President of the United States (1865-1869).  He grew up in a poor family and did not learn how to read or do math until he was an adult. Johnson served as governor of Tennessee and represented his state in both houses of Congress.  Although Johnson was from the opposition party, he went on to serve as Abraham Lincoln's vice-president and succeeded him after Lincoln's assassination. He was the first president to be impeached, but he was not removed from office. The impeachment happened because he fired the Secretary of War after Congress had made it illegal. This was unusual because a president usually appoints his cabinet secretaries. 

Learn more:

• ESL Library: Andrew Johnson (subscription required; teacher discretion advised!)
• VOA Learning English: Andrew Johnson

POP QUIZ:

17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*

28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*

29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

35. What does the President’s Cabinet do?

36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?

43. Who is the Governor of your state now?

45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*

74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.

75. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*