Andrew Johnson Impeach

Words: 510
Pages: 3
Open Document
Though the United States’ political parties’ relationships are rocky, they all believe in abiding by the Constitution and setting aside their differences to make America great, right? In the 1860’s after the Civil War, this was not the case. Radical Republicans fought Johnson to an almost fatal trial. Disregarding the well-being of the Union, the Republican-controlled Congress prioritized partisan values to impeach President Johnson.
Influenced by his opposition to Congress’s reconstruction plans, Congress officially impeached Andrew Johnson for the violation of the Tenure of Office Act. The Tenure of Office Act prohibited the president from removing officials confirmed by the Senate without senatorial approval, shielding Republicans in Johnson’s cabinet such as War Secretary Edwin M. Stanton and trapping Johnson in quagmire. He could either let Stanton remain, or dismiss Stanton and be impeached. The …show more content…
Despite violating the Tenure of Office Act, Johnson attempted to test its constitutionality by replacing Stanton with General Ulysses S. Grant; however, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to rule on the case and Grant returned the office to Stanton. Since the act’s constitutionality was questionable, violation of the law was a weak reason to remove a president since it was not a high crime. Moreover, Johnson’s opposition to Congress’s program, rather than his violation of the Tenure of Office Act, mainly influenced Congress. Johnson’s trial became a political battleground between the republican radicals and democratic Johnson instead of an impartial evaluation of the president’s ability to lead the nation. Congress should not impeach a president on such weak reasons based on personal grudges and small misdemeanors. Ultimately, Johnson’s violation of the Tenure of Office Act and political blunders were not adequate grounds for
Show More

Related Documents: Andrew Johnson Impeach

Black Codes Was Laws Passed After The Civil War

These codes were brought in with the Thirteenth Amendment. 3. Andrew Johnson’s vision for reconstruction started off as a follow through to what Lincoln wanted. He then later on started favoring the Confederates giving them all their land and power back. In addition he added the black codes which restricted many African Americans from freedom. The Radical Republicans did not agree with Andrew and eventually congress tried to impeach him. 4. The 15th amendment allowed men to have the right to vote…

Words 371 - Pages 2

Andrew Johnson Impeachment Analysis

In 1867 Andrew Johnson opposed the Reconstruction Act and was met by a hard push from both republican and democrats along the party lines. After the election he became even bolder in his rebellion. As one Republican questioned “What does he intend to do?” Still another wondered if he would make them all in favor of impeachment. Then the fatal boot would fall when Johnson would remove from office Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. He had administered the War Department in support of the congressional…

Words 347 - Pages 2

Essay about Profiles in Courage

Matt McGarry PLS 135 Professor Sturtevant Profiles in Courage: Houston, Ross, and Adams When John F. Kennedy wrote Profiles in Courage, he had the primary intention of illustrating the courage United States senators had, and still have in the face of immense opposition. Kennedy describes courage as being the most important and honorable of characteristics a senator or any elected official in political office can possess. He depicts this human virtue to be proof of one’s loyalty to what is considered…

Words 1788 - Pages 8

Reconstruction Chap 16 Essay

Lincoln refused to sign the bill Lincoln’s Assassination 1) Killed by John Wilkes Booth at ford’s Theatre a) “sic semper tyrannis”­ thus always to tyrants b) by killing Lincoln, Booth allowed the Radical Republicans to gain control of government President Andrew Jackson 1) 17th President 2) southern Democrat from Tennessee a) white supremacist 3) South thought he was a traitor, North thought he was a southerner Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan 1) Mostly follow Lincolns plan a) DEclares that secession is illegal…

Words 699 - Pages 3

Reconstruction Era of the United States and United States Essay

new President led to conflict. Andrew “Andy” Johnson’s new reconstruction plan was much milder than Lincoln’s, which gave unworthy power to the South and outraged Congress. 5. Why did Republicans in Congress oppose President Johnson’s Reconstruction plan? Because men who had led the South out of the Union were being elected to the House and Senate. President Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan Congressional Republicans Reconstruction Plan President Andrew Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan…

Words 1357 - Pages 6

Essay about Impeachment: Bill Clinton and Impeachment

officers have been impeached in the United States since the country was founded, only seven were removed from office as a direct result of the proceedings. Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton are the only presidents to have been impeached, in 1868 and 1998 respectively. The Senate, however, acquitted both men. The impeachment of President Andrew Johnson was a result of political conflict and the rupture of ideologies in the aftermath of the American Civil War. It rose from uncompromised beliefs and a contest…

Words 1485 - Pages 6

Presidents: President of the United States and President Essay

sometimes vetoed bills because of his states’ rights believes, and that got him in some conflict with his own party. He was ridiculed in his day but is regarded today as a man of great courage. He was the first President that Congress ever tried to impeach. The effort was unsuccessful; but in 1845 Tyler did become the first President to have a veto overridden by Congress. Being the first non-elected President, Tyler was widely resented and dubbed "His Accidency" by his political enemies. I admire his…

Words 2881 - Pages 12

The Ordeal of Reconstruction Essay example

The Ordeal of Reconstruction 1865-1877 The Problems of Peace All rebel (Confederate) leaders were pardoned by President Johnson in 1868. Freedmen Define Freedom Emancipation took effect unevenly in different parts of the conquered Confederacy. Some slaves resisted the liberating Union armies due to their loyalty to their masters. The church became the focus of black community life in the years following emancipation. Blacks formed their own churches pastured by their own ministers…

Words 1860 - Pages 8

Causes Of Labor Unions In The Gilded Age

Labor Unions * AFL- skilled- Samuel Gompers- collective bargaining- fought for shorter workday and higher wages * KOL- unskilled- Terrence Powderly- rejected socialism and radicalism-promoted producers ethic of republicanism- advocated craft unionism, first large national union, led successful rail strike in 1885, 8 hour work day, restrictions on child labor, initiative and referendum (common citizens can vote on laws), more cooperative labor-management relations, * Eugene V Debs-…

Words 2595 - Pages 11

Xiv: Ulysses s. Grant and Southern States Essay

the federal government concentrated on political issues. A. Reconstruction Plans of Lincoln and Johnson Throughout his presidency, Abraham Lincoln held firmly to the belief that the southern states could not constitutionally leave the Union and therefore never did leave. The Confederates in his view represented only a disloyal minority. After Lincoln’s assassination, Andrew Johnson attempted to carry out Lincoln’s plan for the political Reconstruction of the 11 former states of the Confederacy…

Words 5288 - Pages 22