The Impeachment of Andrew The Impeachment of Andrew JohnsonJohnson

Andrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson

Became Pres. Became Pres. Following Lincoln’s Following Lincoln’s assassinationassassination

Democrat from Democrat from Tennessee – Tennessee – sympathetic to sympathetic to southernerssoutherners

Follows Lincoln’s Follows Lincoln’s lenient policieslenient policies

Radical RepublicansRadical Republicans

Leaders of Leaders of Congress who Congress who wanted revenge wanted revenge and punishment for and punishment for southernerssoutherners

Saw an opportunity Saw an opportunity to re-order to re-order southern societysouthern society

Tenure of Office ActTenure of Office Act

Illegal to replace any official whose Illegal to replace any official whose appointment had to be approved by appointment had to be approved by the Senate without Senate’s approvalthe Senate without Senate’s approval

Violated when Johnson fires Sec. of Violated when Johnson fires Sec. of War Edwin StantonWar Edwin Stanton

Johnson Impeached by House Johnson Impeached by House of Representativesof Representatives

Impeached = officially chargedImpeached = officially charged

Impeachment TrialImpeachment Trial

Senate acts as jurySenate acts as jury Chief Justice of Supreme Court acts Chief Justice of Supreme Court acts

as judgeas judge

Clinton, Nixon, JohnsonClinton, Nixon, Johnson

2/3 majority needed for 2/3 majority needed for convictionconviction

1n 1868, there were 54 Senators (27 1n 1868, there were 54 Senators (27 states)states)

36 guilty votes needed36 guilty votes needed 42 Republicans42 Republicans 12 Democrats12 Democrats

Predetermined?Predetermined?

Most senators had voiced their Most senators had voiced their opinion before the trial was even opinion before the trial was even held. All 12 Democrats and 6 held. All 12 Democrats and 6 Republicans would vote Not GuiltyRepublicans would vote Not Guilty

1 more not guilty vote needed for 1 more not guilty vote needed for acquittalacquittal

Edmund G. RossEdmund G. Ross

Edmund G. RossEdmund G. Ross

Freshman Senator Freshman Senator from Kansasfrom Kansas

Conscience or Conscience or Constituents?Constituents?

Integrity of the Integrity of the Presidency?Presidency?

Political SuicidePolitical Suicide

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