History Of The United States Politics And Policies

Question Two

President Andrew Johnson was the 17th U.S president who took over office after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in April of 1865. First, Republican Radicals wanted to transform southern social and economic status by terminating the old system, which discriminated the slaves by denying them full citizenship rights including voting rights. Radicals did not give up and were more willing to voice their views during the U.S congress held on December the 4, 1865. Disappointingly, there was denial of seat for all of the representatives. This issue gained a lot of support and hence the congress passed a Civil Rights Act in favor of the southern black codes. Consequently, this granted new rights such as right to testify in court, buy property, and to sue but President Johnson rejected the Act claiming it was a violation of the states’ rights. The congress intervened and suspended the veto.

In the year 1867, there was approval of Military Reconstruction Act, Tenure of Office Act, and Command of the Army Act despite the President’s veto. This limited the power of the president hence he could not interfere with the Congressional Reconstruction. In addition, he was required to subject military orders to General of the Army instead of handling this directly. In the congress, majority in the congress wanted to maintain Secretary of War and a radical follower, Edwin M. Stanton, in cabinet but the president suspended him. However, the Senate failed to conform to this thus he attained his position back, this was in August 12, 1867. Johnson again replaced Stanton with General Lorenzo Thomas and maintained that the military governors to report to him directly as from February 21, 1868. Finally, after three days the House of Representatives voted for an impeachment of the president. This led to his official impeachment.

Open Door Policy is a notion in foreign affairs stating that all nations are required to have equivalent commercial and industrial trade powers in China with none of them in authority of the country. This principle realized in Berlin Conference in 1885 maintained that no authority could tax privileged duties in the Congo basin. It originates from the British commercial performance as witnessed in treaties, which ended with the Qing Dynasty China following the first Opium War during 1839-1842. Then it was first highly developed in the Open Door Notes of September and November in 1899 by the United States in regards to china. With achievements of the Philippine Islands, the U.S felt that its business interests in China were threatened given that most of the country’s prospects were under Japan and European powers.

The events unfolding in China led U.S Secretary of State, John Hay, to act on behalf of his country. As such, he requested the major powers such as France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, and Japan to confirm that they will defend Chinese territorial, administrative integrity. In addition, that they would not interfere with the free usage of the accord ports. In response to this, all nations eluded Hay’s request since they felt that unless other nations conform, they would not commit themselves. Tension grew during the time but in July 1900, Hay declared that each of the powers had settled consent in principle. However, competitions rose among a variety of powers for exceptional allowances on railroad rights, loans, mining rights, and foreign trade ports after the making of the treaties. In the modern China, after the emergence of the Communist Party of China, the policy was rejected earlier and reinstated in 1978. After Deng Xiaoping devoted china in accepting laws that encourage economic investments and foreign trade.

Ulysses S. Grant served in the military, as General Ulysses S. Grant during the reign of President Andrew Johnson. However, became the president of the United States in1869 after the impeachment of Johnson. The society also saw him as the hero of the civil war with many citizens hoping that after electing him they would end the turmoil that was existed in the country during that time. However, majority of historians determined that he did little in developing the country and claiming that he seemed confused. After the elections, he won and took half of his military stuff to White house and continued leading the nation the same way he did in the military. Though he continued the congress policy of Radical Reconstruction, many citizens felt that he had no actual authority for Reconstruction.

As Grant continued to station troops in the south, many people saw this as militarism including the Republicans. This caused disappointment with the Republican Party. In 1872 during his campaigns on the re-election, Grant assaulted by the reformers of the Liberal Republican gained him popularity during the campaigns. With the help of the supporters in the Republican which was later known as’ the Old Guard’ he achieved Presidency for a second term in the office. He did not interfere with the south activities but instead he let the Radical Reconstruction take charge in the south and he also strengthened the south by administering it with military force