Transcript Andrew Johnson`s Impeachment

Andrew Johnson’s
Impeachment
What does it mean
to impeach a
president?
Why would a
president be
impeached?
Background
Upon Lincoln’s
assassination
Andrew Johnson
took control of both
the presidency and
reconstruction of the
divided nation after
the Civil War.
Clashes with Congress
» During Congress’ recess
between April to
December of 1865,
Johnson conducted
the reconstruction on
his own and attempted
to work without
Congressional
approval.
Johnson’s Plan
Pardons would be granted to those taking
a loyalty oath
No pardons would be available to high
Confederate officials and persons owning
property valued in excess of $20,000
A state needed to abolish slavery before
being readmitted
A state was required to repeal its
secession ordinance before being
readmitted.
Most of the seceded states began compliance with the
president’s program. Congress was not in session, so
there was no immediate objection from that quarter.
However, Congress reconvened in December and
refused to seat the Southern representatives.
Reconstruction had produced another deadlock
between the president and Congress.
Key Points of Presidential
Reconstruction
 Discuss the major points of Andrew
Johnson’s reconstruction plan with a
partner.
 Why would Johnson’s plan upset
Radical Republicans?
Reasons to Impeach
• House of Representatives has the sole power to
impeach
• Senate alone is responsible for trying those so
charged
• 2/3 vote for conviction and removal
• must be based upon the commission of treason,
bribery or high crimes and misdemeanors.
Bringing Charges
• Between 1866 and
1868 the Radical
Republicans in
Congress and
Johnson engaged in
a political chess
match over
reconstruction
legislation.
• (Civil Rights Act)
11 charges
 On February 24, three days after Johnson's dismissal
of Stanton, the House voted 126 to 47 in favor of a
resolution to impeach the president of high crimes and
misdemeanors. The two sponsors of the resolution,
Thaddeus Stevens and John A. Bingham, were
immediately dispatched to inform the Senate that the
House had officially voted for impeachment.
 One week later, the House adopted eleven articles of
impeachment against the president.
Charges
 Dismissing Edwin Stanton from office after the Senate
had voted not to concur with his dismissal and had
ordered him reinstated.
 Appointing Thomas Secretary of War ad interim
despite the lack of vacancy in the office, since the
dismissal of Stanton had been invalid.
 Appointing Thomas without the required advice and
consent of the Senate.
 Conspiring, with Thomas and "other persons to the
House of Representatives unknown," to unlawfully
prevent Stanton from continuing in office.
Charges
 Conspiring to unlawfully curtail faithful execution of
the Tenure of Office Act.
 Conspiring to "seize, take, and possess the property
of the United States in the Department of War."
 Conspiring to "seize, take, and possess the property
of the United States in the Department of War" with
specific intent to violate the Tenure of Office Act.
Charges
 Issuing to Thomas the authority of the office of
Secretary of War with unlawful intent to "control the
disbursements of the moneys appropriated for the
military service and for the Department of War."
 Issuing to Major General William H. Emory orders with
unlawful intent to violate the Tenure of Office Act.
 Making three speeches with intent to show disrespect
for the Congress among the citizens of the United
States.
 The eleventh article was a summation of the first ten.
The Trial
 Johnson Impeachment Committee from a photograph
by Mathew Brady in the Signal Corps, War
Department, Washington. Left to right, Seated:
Benjamin F. Butler, Thaddeus Stevens, Thomas
Williams, John A. Bingham. Standing: James F.
Wilson, George S. Boutwell, John A. Logan.
The trial was so crowded
that tickets for admission
had to be issued
The Verdict

10 days of
deliberations the vote
in the Senate was 3519 (1 vote shy)
Out of Time


Johnson spent
the final months
of his term in
office as a
“lame duck”
president.
What does it
mean to be a
“lame duck”?
Harper’
s
Weekly
Magazi
ne