Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson

On February 24, 1868, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Andrew Johnson, marking the first impeachment of a U.S. president in American history. This significant event was primarily driven by Johnson’s violation of the Tenure of Office Act, a controversial law enacted by Congress in 1867.

Background

Andrew Johnson became president following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in April 1865. As a Southern Democrat who remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War, Johnson’s approach to Reconstruction was lenient towards the former Confederate states. This leniency put him at odds with the Radical Republicans in Congress, who sought to impose stricter terms and protect the rights of newly freed African Americans.

The Tenure of Office Act

The Tenure of Office Act was passed by Congress in March 1867, over Johnson’s veto. The law was designed to restrict the president’s power to remove certain officeholders without the Senate’s approval. It specifically aimed to protect Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary of War, who was aligned with the Radical Republicans and a key figure in implementing Congressional Reconstruction policies.

The Impeachment

Johnson’s decision to dismiss Stanton in February 1868 and appoint Lorenzo Thomas as his replacement was seen as a direct violation of the Tenure of Office Act. This action provided the Radical Republicans with the grounds they needed to initiate impeachment proceedings.

On February 24, 1868, the House of Representatives voted 126 to 47 in favor of impeaching Johnson. The charges against him included 11 articles of impeachment, with the primary focus on his alleged violation of the Tenure of Office Act and his attempts to undermine Congressional Reconstruction efforts.

The Trial and Aftermath

The impeachment trial began in the Senate on March 5, 1868. Johnson’s defense argued that the Tenure of Office Act did not apply to Stanton, as he was appointed by Lincoln, not Johnson. The trial concluded on May 16, 1868, with the Senate falling one vote short of the two-thirds majority required to convict and remove Johnson from office. The final vote was 35 guilty to 19 not guilty.

The impeachment of Andrew Johnson had significant implications for the balance of power between the presidency and Congress. It highlighted the contentious nature of Reconstruction and set a precedent for the limits of presidential authority. The Tenure of Office Act itself was later repealed in 1887, and in 1926, the U.S. Supreme Court declared a similar law unconstitutional, reinforcing the president’s power to remove executive branch officials.

Johnson completed his term but was not nominated for a second term. His impeachment remains a pivotal moment in U.S. history, illustrating the complexities of governance and the challenges of post-Civil War America.