Why was Johnson chosen to be Lincoln's Vice President?

• A. Because he was a Southerner and a Democrat
• B. Because he led Radical Reconstruction
• C. Because he opposed emancipation
• D. Because he was a Northern Republican

Answer: (A)

The main idea this question tests is why a presidential candidate would pick a running mate to broaden support and unify a divided country. Lincoln chose Andrew Johnson, a Southern Democrat from Tennessee who had remained loyal to the Union, to show national unity and attract votes from War Democrats and border-state voters. This balance helped the ticket appeal to both Republicans seeking to preserve the Union and Democrats who supported the war but were wary of Republican emancipation policies. Johnson’s background as a Southern Unionist fit that goal. He wasn’t chosen to lead Radical Reconstruction, nor for opposing emancipation, and he wasn’t a Northern Republican, all of which aligns with the broader aim of reaching across regional and party lines.