The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

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The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
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Andrew Johnson

• Became Pres. Following Lincolns assassination
• Democrat from Tennessee sympathetic to
  southerners
• Follows Lincolns lenient policies

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Radical Republicans

• Leaders of Congress who wanted revenge and
  punishment for southerners
• Saw an opportunity to re-order southern society

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Tenure of Office Act

• Illegal to replace any official whose appointment
  had to be approved by the Senate without Senates
  approval
• Violated when Johnson fires Sec. of War Edwin
  Stanton

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Johnson Impeached by House of Representatives

• Impeached officially charged

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Impeachment Trial

• Senate acts as jury
• Chief Justice of Supreme Court acts as judge
• Clinton, Nixon, Johnson

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2/3 majority needed for conviction

• 1n 1868, there were 54 Senators (27 states)
• 36 guilty votes needed
• 42 Republicans
• 12 Democrats

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Predetermined?

• Most senators had voiced their opinion before the
  trial was even held. All 12 Democrats and 6
  Republicans would vote Not Guilty
• 1 more not guilty vote needed for acquittal
• Edmund G. Ross

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Edmund G. Ross

• Freshman Senator from Kansas
• Conscience or Constituents?
• Integrity of the Presidency?

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Political Suicide

• None of the 7 Republicans who voted not guilty
  were ever re-elected to the Senate