Andrew Johnson and the Homestead Act

Date:
September 24, 2024
Contact:Shawn Gillette, 423-639-3711

LIMESTONE, TN - At 7:00 PM, Saturday, September 28, Andrew Johnson National Historic Site (NHS) will present the first of a series of evening programs at David Crockett Birthplace State Park. The program, entitled "Andrew Johnson and the Homestead Act," will be presented by National Park Service staff in the state park amphitheater, located behind the park visitor center.

Born into poverty in 1808, Andrew Johnson became the very definition of a self-made man, pulling himself from poverty to prosperity, from local politician to the Presidency of the United States. As a congressman, Johnson fought for the working class he came from, authoring a Homestead Bill to provide opportunities his fellow working-class men, whom he felt were victims of a brutally stratified economy.

During this program, visitors will learn why this bill was bitterly contested in Congress and took 16 years to pass. Find out how homesteading impacted the rich, the poor, industry workers, landowners, enslaved laborers, and the indigenous tribes of the 1800s and how its effects are still felt today.

The 1-hour program is free and open to the public. Dress for the night weather, bring a flashlight, and enjoy an evening under the stars at your state park. For additional information contact the Andrew Johnson NHS visitor center at (423) 638-3551. David Crockett Birthplace State Park is located at 1245 Davy Crockett Park Rd, Limestone, TN 37681.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.