Final answer:
Abraham Lincoln chose Andrew Johnson as his running mate in 1864 to signal unity and reconciliation between the North and South. Johnson was a moderate Southern War Democrat and Tennessee's military governor, who had shown Union loyalty. Despite lacking strong regional allies, Johnson's political positions on Unity and Reconstruction were aligned with Lincoln's strategy for healing the nation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why Abraham Lincoln Chose Andrew Johnson as His Running Mate
Abraham Lincoln selected Andrew Johnson as his running mate in the 1864 Presidential Election for several strategic reasons. As a Southern War Democrat and the military governor of Tennessee, Johnson had shown loyalty to the Union despite coming from a seceding state. Lincoln's choice of Johnson was aimed at sending a strong message of national unity and reconciliation between the North and the South. Additionally, Johnson's endorsement of a constitutional amendment ending slavery showcased a critical alignment with Lincoln's views. Though Johnson lacked a significant following in both regions, his position in Tennessee and his moderation were perceived to benefit the National Union Party and potentially help to bridge the divide within the nation during the Reconstruction period.
It is worth noting that Johnson, despite his position, had no strong allies in either the North or South, which indicates that Lincoln was willing to make a bold and perhaps contentious choice for the sake of preserving the Union. Johnson's background, including his remarkable self-taught literacy and his political trajectory as a southerner who remained loyal to the Union, made him a symbol of the possibility of reunification, which was a key factor in the political landscape of the time