The trial for the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson took place in May of 1868. Previously, in January of the same year, the House of Representatives had voted overwhelmingly to put Johnson on trial before the Senate for his apparent violation of the Tenure of Office Act. The issues began between Congress and Johnson because of differing views on how to handle Reconstruction. Johnson, a moderate, didn't agree with Radical Republicans that wanted to help the South and welcome them back into the Union. The president set up governments in the South that were led by people deemed "loyal" to the Union. In the eyes of the Republicans, he had left too much power and leverage in the hands of the southern whites who they suspected would not respect the rights of freed blacks. The Republicans' fears came true when these imposed southern governments instituted the Black Codes. Other disputes came up between Congress and Johnson leading up to his near impeachment beginning January of 1868, most notably his attempted discharge of Secretary of War Edward Stanton, a Radical, which according to Congress, violated the Tenure of Office Act. In May, the Senate came within a single vote of impeaching Johnson on charges of high crimes and misdemeanor. However, the violation of the Tenure of Office Act was deemed as irrelevant because Stanton had been appointed while Lincoln was in office. The trial was largely considered a political trial, and more commonly as a battle between Congress and the president over Reconstruction. Although Johnson was not impeached, the trial had a large effect on the government and on Reconstruction. The case showed the public that congressional Radicals were taking the issue of reconstruction seriously and that they would do whatever was necessary to ensure that their plans were implemented. It also cemented in the minds of the people and in reality the fact that reconstruction would happen according to Congress, not the president. The trial had effectively scared Johnson into cooperating with Congress regarding reconstruction. During the trial, he planned to enforce the congressional Reconstruction Act and work with Congress to ensure that the balance of power in the government stayed intact. For the rest of his time in office, President Johnson kept his promise and cooperated with Congress.
IMPEACHMENT OF ANDREW JOHNSON 1867
by Colby GalliherThe trial for the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson took place in May of 1868. Previously, in January of the same year, the House of Representatives had voted overwhelmingly to put Johnson on trial before the Senate for his apparent violation of the Tenure of Office Act. The issues began between Congress and Johnson because of differing views on how to handle Reconstruction. Johnson, a moderate, didn't agree with Radical Republicans that wanted to help the South and welcome them back into the Union. The president set up governments in the South that were led by people deemed "loyal" to the Union. In the eyes of the Republicans, he had left too much power and leverage in the hands of the southern whites who they suspected would not respect the rights of freed blacks. The Republicans' fears came true when these imposed southern governments instituted the Black Codes. Other disputes came up between Congress and Johnson leading up to his near impeachment beginning January of 1868, most notably his attempted discharge of Secretary of War Edward Stanton, a Radical, which according to Congress, violated the Tenure of Office Act. In May, the Senate came within a single vote of impeaching Johnson on charges of high crimes and misdemeanor. However, the violation of the Tenure of Office Act was deemed as irrelevant because Stanton had been appointed while Lincoln was in office. The trial was largely considered a political trial, and more commonly as a battle between Congress and the president over Reconstruction. Although Johnson was not impeached, the trial had a large effect on the government and on Reconstruction. The case showed the public that congressional Radicals were taking the issue of reconstruction seriously and that they would do whatever was necessary to ensure that their plans were implemented. It also cemented in the minds of the people and in reality the fact that reconstruction would happen according to Congress, not the president. The trial had effectively scared Johnson into cooperating with Congress regarding reconstruction. During the trial, he planned to enforce the congressional Reconstruction Act and work with Congress to ensure that the balance of power in the government stayed intact. For the rest of his time in office, President Johnson kept his promise and cooperated with Congress.
Articles of Impeachment
Summation of the Impeachment