• HOME
• HISTORY
• MULTIMEDIA
• EVENTS
• LINKS
• SITE INFO

New Updates

• Two videos and six stories were added to the Multimedia page on January 6, 2009.
 
• Nine stories and four videos were added to the Multimedia page on December 16.
 
• A video was added to the Multimedia page on October 27.
 
• Five articles were added to the Multimedia page on October 27.
 
• The calendar was updated on May 29. 24 articles and 6 videos were added to the Multimedia page.
 
• A video report was added to the Multimedia page on Apr. 25.

News Updates

Event At Homestead Honors Date Johnson Freed Slaves

Sun Photo by Lisa Warren Lizzie Watts, at top right, superintendent of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, is shown speaking during Thursday evening’s special event at the Andrew Johnson Homestead. In the background are Jim Small, at far left, chief of operations for the Andrew Johnson Historic Site, and Daniel Luther, second from right, a Park Service guide who portrayed President Johnson during the event. The children in the foreground are first graders from EastView Elementary School who led the Pledge of Allegiance during the event.

Source: The Greeneville Sun
by Lisa Warren
Date: 2008-10-25

A special program was held Thursday evening at the home of President Andrew Johnson in honor of his historic call in 1864 to free all slaves in Tennessee.
 
Titled "An Evening at the Homestead: Let Freedom Ring," the event was part of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site's continuing year-long 200th anniversary celebration of President Johnson's birth, which will be marked Dec. 29.
 
On Oct. 24, 1864, during the midst of the Civil War, Andrew Johnson, who was then serving as military governor of Tennessee, stood on the steps of the state capitol in Nashville and delivered a speech calling for the emancipation of all slaves in Tennessee. Johnson had previously freed his own personal slaves on Aug. 8, 1863.
 
At the time of his statewide emancipation call, Johnson was also campaigning for the position of Vice President of the United States. He was on the campaign ticket with Abraham Lincoln, who was running for his second term as U.S. president in 1864.
 
Lincoln and Johnson won the election. But just months later, Johnson became the nation's 17th president following the assassination of President Lincoln in April, 1865.
 
At Thursday evening's event, National Park Service (NPS) guide Daniel Luther, who was dressed in period attire, portrayed Johnson and re-enacted the future president's 1864 emancipation speech.
 
Luther also participated as a tour guide of the Andrew Johnson Homestead, along with Andrew Johnson National Historic Site museum technician, Kendra Hinkle, who portrayed Johnson's younger daughter, Mary, during the event.
 
Also during the event, Jim Small, chief of operations at the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, spoke on how the Civil War resulted in many changes for the citizens of that time.
 
"The Civil War resulted in many changes to our lives," Small said. "The way we work, live and govern all have been influenced by the outcome.
 
"The freeing from bondage of over four million enslaved people had a great impact on the direction of those changes," he said.
 
Andrew Johnson was a slave owner, and "during his early years, his understanding of the role of the slave in Southern society and his attitude towards slavery was unsympathetic," Small said.
 
As the Civil War progressed, however, Johnson's attitude toward slavery began to change, Small said.
 
Johnson freed his own personal slaves on Aug. 8, 1863 -- and then as military governor of Tennessee, he called for the freeing of all slaves in Tennessee on Oct. 24, 1864.
 
"We celebrate tonight not only Johnson's changing opinions on slavery, but also that of a nation," Small said.
 
Also during the Johnson event, first-grade students from EastView Elementary School kicked off the festivities by leading those in attendance in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
 
Leslie Baker-Cole also participated in the event by presenting a stirring performance of the Negro spirituals "Oh Freedom" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." She also led those in attendance in the singing of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "America the Beautiful."
 
Andrew Johnson was born in Raleigh, N.C. and moved to Greeneville, Tennessee when he a young man.
 
He served in public office for 45 years of his life: as mayor of Greeneville; as a Tennessee State Representative; as a Tennessee State Senator; as a U.S. Representative from Tennessee; as a U.S. Senator from Tennessee; as the Military Governor of Tennessee; as U.S. Vice President, and as U.S. President.
 
Johnson was known as a staunch defender of the U.S. Constitution as a result of his attempts to reunite the United States following the succession of the Southern states and ensuing Civil War.
 
Persons are invited to come learn more about Johnson and his life by visiting the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site's Visitor's Center, located at the corner of Depot and College streets in downtown Greeneville as well as President Johnson's home, located at 209 S. Main Street.
 
The historic site is open daily (expect Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
For more information, call 639-3711.