Andrew Johnson was impeached primarily because he violated the Tenure of Office Act by removing Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War, without the Senate's approval. This act was passed by Congress to restrict Johnson’s power to remove certain officeholders. Additionally, Johnson's lenient policies toward the former Confederate states and his opposition to the Radical Republicans' Reconstruction efforts fueled the political conflict leading to his impeachment. His repeated vetoes of Reconstruction and Civil Rights legislation and his public defiance of Congress exacerbated this clash. The House of Representatives impeached him on February 24, 1868, but he narrowly escaped removal from office by the Senate, which fell one vote short of the necessary two-thirds majority for conviction.
Key Reasons for Impeachment
- Violation of the Tenure of Office Act by firing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.
- Defiance of the Radical Republicans and Congress who sought stringent Reconstruction policies.
- Pardoning former Confederates and obstruction of Reconstruction Acts.
- Public speeches and actions considered divisive and inflammatory against Congress.
- Political struggle over control of Reconstruction and reuniting the nation after the Civil War.
Johnson was the first U.S. president to be impeached, and although he was impeached by the House, the Senate trial resulted in his acquittal by just one vote, allowing him to finish his term.
