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PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON IMPEACHED 1868 NOT FAIR! NOT GUILTY! NOT RIGHT! By: Tori Bezoza Background: Johnson’s Term Johnson was Vice President when President Lincoln was assassinated. He was a democratic Senator from Tennessee and the only southern Senator to support the Union after the Confederates fired on Fort Sumpter. He became President when the nation was finished with the Civil War and in crisis. He needed to piece the United states back together. Focusing on bringing the south back to the Union was his main problem. He was against Lincoln's original strategy for reconnecting called The Wade- Davis Plan. Radicals Radicals included the Republicans and the Congress. Many radicals were against Johnson because he became a democrat. When Johnson became president congress was not scheduled to have another meeting until the next december. Republicans, though, wanted Johnson to call congress into session to make new rules for the south. Johnson refused to let them. The Conflict Radicals soon turned against President Johnson and were out to “get” him. They took away powers from the President that the Constitution gave him. In doing this, they hoped to frustrate Johnson and make him violate one of the new laws. Then they would have a reason to convict him. When Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act, which said the president could not dismiss any federal official without the consent of the senate, Johnson was fed up. Then Johnson's number one enemy who was Secretary of State, Stanton, and in Lincoln's original cabinet, started to plot against Johnson. What did Johnson do? Johnson fired Stanton for personal reasons and to test the Tenure of Office Act. It wasn’t a big deal that he went against this small law because he believed it was unconstitutional. Sadly, it was enough for the radicals to “get” him. Steps to Johnson’s Impeachment The President could only be removed if he was impeached or convicted of treason, bribery, or other high crimes. First the House of Representatives would have to “impeach” the president. Then the President would be tried in the Senate and 2/3 would have to support it. The Senate met on March 30, 1868 to talk about the future president, after the House impeached Johnson. Outcome President Andrew Johnson was found not guilty when he was impeached. He did not run for his second term of presidency because he knew he would never win. If Johnson was impeached and convicted, it would have been the first time the Congress was in total control. Johnson tried his best to live up to Abraham Lincoln’s ideals but sadly the nation was not on his side. Very Unfair! Johnson believed many of the laws enforced by Congress were unwise but still he tried very hard to enforce each and every one of them. Congress was mad because they weren't the one’s in control and since Johnson was, which he is supposed to be, they couldn’t bear it. Congress took away so many powers from the president that he was getting impatient but they made the started the big problem, not him. THE END