and money. The country was shaken and disturbed from end to end. The position of those states which had joined the Confederate government was a grave problem to statesmen. With the cessation of the bitter struggle, waged for four long years courageously and devotedly on both sides, and with the restoration of peace and the attempts to restore quiet and harmony throughout the land, begins the period in our history of Reconstruction and Peace.

SIXTH PERIOD.

Reconstruction and Peace.

SIXTH PERIOD.

RECONSTRUCTION AND PEACE.

CHAPTER LXII.

JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION—1865–1869.

Sketch of Johnson-The Thirteenth Amendment-Amnesty proclaimed-Napoleon's Mexican schemes-Execution of Max. imilian--Presidential and Congressional views of reconstruc. tion-Johnson and Congress come into conflict-Bitterness of the former-The Fourteenth Amendment-Tennessee readmitted to the Union-Reconstruction bills-Nebraska becomes a state-Seven southern states readmitted to the Union-Impeachment of President Johnson-His acquittal-Further proclamations of amnesty-The Fourteenth Amendment adopted-The Atlantic cable-A Bankrupt Act passed-Alaska purchased-Grant and Colfax elected.

The fears which the assassination of Lincoln caused throughout the north that the government would be thrown into hopeless confusion were happily not realized. A few hours after Lincoln's death, on the 15th of April, 1865, Andrew Johnson took the oath of office as President. He was somewhat over fifty-six years of age, having been born in North Carolina in December, 1808. During his youth he removed to Tennessee, where he grew up. He did not know how to write and cipher till taught by his young wife, but he rapidly developed and became prominent in the affairs of his state and country. He was elected to the House of Representatives, and afterward was sent to