Andrew Jonhson and His Impeachment Trial

¶ … Andrew Johnson served as protagonist in what marked the start of renewal in America. His courageous and often untactful Tennessean expression showed Congress who he was and who he had been when he took up Lincoln's plans after his assassination in order to reconstruct a nation. He knew of Lincoln's previous struggles with the extremists in Congress and tried to continue Lincoln's aim for reconstruction within a charitable and constitutional manner.

However, because of Johnson's fiery temperament, the reconstruction period took a turn for the worse with Ross playing Johnson's savior. Andrew Johnson was a permanent Democrat as well as slave owner who gained a place together with Abraham Lincoln on the "1864 Republican ticket in order to gain the support of pro-war Democrats. Johnson was fiercely pro-Union and had come to national prominence when, as a Senator from the important border state of Tennessee, he denounced secession as "treason" (Law2.umkc.edu 2015).

His impeachment served as a notable event in American history that historians discuss to this day because of Johnson's struggle with firm opposition and its sensational culmination. Johnson (who was resolute in carrying out Abraham Lincoln's plans of resolution with the defeated south) had to go up against the more fundamental Republican leaders within Congress as they pursued administration to the subjugated Southern states, recognizing them as dominated provinces that had lost their rights under the Constitution.

What was in the beginning a conflict of interest transformed into a struggle between Legislative and Executive authority. There was an impeachment and a fight for political power through Reconstruction policies that lasted for years and culminated in a one-vote difference for power. Johnson faced impeachment on 24 February 1868. He was charged with eleven articles of impeachment that detailed his misdemeanors and "high crimes" as was discussed by those in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The main charge against Johnson was a perceived violation of the Tenure of Office Act that was passed by Congress a year before. More precisely the House did not agree with Johnson's action of removing Edwin M. Stanton (Secretary of War at the time) from office. Not only did he remove Stanton, but also then subsequently replaced him with the Union's general, Ulysses S. Grant.

Against popular opinion, the impeachment trial began within weeks of announcement and became the first of its kind in the country (with Bill Clinton being the other president that faced impeachment). Although many opposed the impeachment of Johnson, many in Congress opposed his behavior and sought to remove him from power. The trial began on March 5, 1868, and finished on May 16, 1868 in favor of Johnson. With just one vote less than the required two-thirds, Johnson was free to continue his mission after receiving his acquittal.

It also marked an important moment in American history that showed Johnson had the right to remove Stanton from office as later examined in 1887, with the repeal of the Tenure of Office Act by Congress. It showed that Johnson's position firing.