Little Known First Ladies: Eliza Johnson Quiz

Answer: Tennessee

Very little is known about Eliza's early life. She was born in Telford, Tennessee. Her father was John McCardle, a cobbler who died when Eliza was a little girl. Her mother was Sarah Phillips. It is known the McCardles had very little money and income yet rarely lacked the basic necessities and Eliza was educated in a variety of subjects. Eliza was the first First Lady who was an only child and the first born in poverty.

Answer: To find work

Although it is not known for sure, the story goes that Eliza was with a group of her school friends when she saw Andrew and his family come into town. They were immediately smitten with each other and Eliza told her friends she would marry him before even speaking to Andrew. Andrew and Eliza married when he was 18 and she was 16, making them the youngest future presidential couple at the time of their marriage.

Answer: True

The Johnsons had five children: Martha, Charles, Mary, Robert and Andrew Jr. Unlike most other presidential couples, all five lived into adulthood, although only two of them lived beyond the age of 35. The Johnsons were the second presidential couple to have this achievement after Millard and Abigail Fillmore.

Answer: Eliza helped him refine his skills

It was commonly believed at the time of Johnson's life (and today) that Eliza taught Andrew how to read and write. According to Eliza and her daughter Martha, this is incorrect. The president did not have a strong formal education but he was educated and could read and write.

However, his skills in these areas were sloppy and Eliza taught him how to refine these skills. Andrew would later credit Eliza for helping him enter politics as he did not feel he would have succeeded in that area if she had not helped him to write better.

Answer: She opposed slavery but did own slaves

Eliza Johnson was morally and religiously opposed to slavery, which was highly unusual for the wife of successful Democratic politician in the South. However, it is known that Eliza owned at least two slaves: Dolly and Sam, a sister and brother. Dolly and Sam were house slaves who helped Eliza raise her children when Andrew was away serving as a state legislator in Tennessee and later as a representative in Washington.

It was widely believed that Eliza had purchased Dolly and Sam after they asked her to save them from a cruel master but historians no longer widely believe that.

It is known, however, that Eliza treated her slaves kindly and humanely.

Answer: She became a refugee

Unlike most prominent Southern families, the Johnsons supported the Union. Andrew, while in the Senate at the time, spoke fiercely against the Confederacy and this made him a target. Eliza, who had contracted tuberculosis and recovered, was forced out of her home in Tennessee by Confederate troops for being a Union sympathizer. She went to her daughter Mary's house but they too were forced from there. Eliza was physically weakened by her bout with tuberculosis and could not travel far. She, Mary and Eliza's youngest son Andrew Jr. were forced to beg from town to town for shelter and food. Many people turned them away because they were still in Confederate territory.

With what little food and rations they were given, Eliza and Mary snuck some into the camp where Mary's husband was stationed and Eliza often skipped eating so her young grandchildren could eat. Eliza was arrested at least once and held captive by Nathan Bedford Forrest before given permission to seek refuge in Nashville. In Nashville, Andrew Jr.'s life was threatened repeatedly and the family eventually sought refuge in the Union controlled Cincinnati.

Andrew used the poor treatment of his wife and family in political rallies to drum up Union support but this failed and the treats against Eliza increased. It was during this time that Eliza experienced a poor bout of mental health (possibly PTSD). In addition, Eliza and Andrew's son Charles was killed during the war when he was thrown from his horse.

Answer: The Johnsons had family issues

Eliza was quite pleased when her husband was named as Lincoln's running mate. Lincoln was a Republican who hoped for unity by naming a Southern Democrat as his Vice President. However, family issues got in the way and Eliza was unable to join Andrew during the campaign. The most important of these issues was the alcoholism of her son Robert. Eliza took him to Massachusetts for recovery. She also sought further treatment to increase her own strength, though this may have been a guise to keep an eye on Robert. In addition, Eliza's daughter Mary was widowed when her husband unexpectedly died and Eliza went to help her with the children.

Eliza, who rarely visited her husband in Washington when he was in Congress, did not visit him there while he was Vice President either. She did not arrive in Washington until after Lincoln was assassinated and her husband assumed the presidency.

Answer: She focused on her family

Eliza primarily focused on her family's well being while First Lady. The recent tragedies the Johnsons had experienced fostered an importance of family life. Nearly their entire family, including adult children and their families, moved into the White House. Eliza shared the hostess duties with her daughters who also served as tutors the various grandchildren.

Eliza did occasionally host modest parties. She had hoped to be able to restore the White House to its previous glory as a center of political social life in Washington and hoped to do so without extravagant spending which she deemed inappropriate at the end of the Civil War.

In addition, Eliza live in constant fear that her husband would be assassinated and extra security measures were taken to appease her on this matter. Eliza was also afraid for her husband's reputation since there were unfounded (and now disproven) rumors Andrew was a conspirator in the Lincoln assassination. Despite her poor health, Eliza did not become a recluse and met with as many guests as she possibly could.

Answer: Queen Emma of Hawaii

It is a perpetuating myth that Eliza Johnson never threw parties and rarely left the White House. One of the most famous events she threw was a state dinner for Queen Emma of Hawaii, the wife of King Kamehameha. The invitation Eliza sent to Queen Emma was discovered in 2011 and is believed to be the oldest surviving invitation written by a First Lady to an honored guest.

Answer: That he would be acquitted

It is not believed Andrew shared any details of his political life with Eliza but it is known Eliza took a great interest in it. She read several newspapers daily to keep up to date with her husband's work. She always made sure to read articles that not only supported Johnson but opposed him as well.

She was confident that her husband would be acquitted in the Senate during his impeachment trial and reportedly shouted for joy when it happened.