Andrew Johnson’s impeachment, the scandals surrounding his administration, and the post-Civil War political climate.
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
- Andrew Johnson was the first US president to be impeached
- Era of deep divisions over race, governance, and the direction of the nation after the Civil War
- Scandals surrounding his administration fueled perceptions of incompetence and misconduct
The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
The impeachment of Andrew Johnson marked a pivotal and scandalous episode in U.S. history, occurring at the crossroads of post-Civil War Reconstruction and political upheaval. Johnson thrust into the presidency after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, faced intense scrutiny for his opposition to Congressional Reconstruction policies and his lenient approach to the Southern states that had seceded. His impeachment, the first of a U.S. president, was not merely a reflection of political differences but a moment charged with deep divisions over race, governance, and the direction of the nation after the Civil War.
The Political Climate of Reconstruction
The period following the Civil War was one of profound transformation and contention. The Union’s victory had abolished slavery, but the path to integrating millions of formerly enslaved people into American society was fraught with conflict. Radical Republicans in Congress sought to reshape the South by granting civil rights and suffrage to Black Americans, using federal authority to enforce these changes. Johnson, a Southern Democrat and staunch advocate of states’ rights, resisted these efforts, vetoing key Reconstruction legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and opposing the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted citizenship to formerly enslaved people.
Johnson’s leniency toward the former Confederate states, including his frequent pardons of ex-Confederate leaders, alarmed Congressional Republicans. His refusal to use federal power to protect the rights of Black citizens and his public clashes with Congress exacerbated tensions, setting the stage for his eventual impeachment.
The Scandals of Johnson’s Administration
While Johnson’s impeachment was rooted in political disagreements, scandals surrounding his administration fueled perceptions of incompetence and misconduct. His outspoken and often undignified rhetoric alienated even moderate allies. Johnson embarked on a disastrous speaking tour known as the “Swing Around the Circle” in 1866, during which he publicly attacked his political opponents, compared himself to Christ, and lashed out at hecklers. This behavior undermined his credibility and painted him as a divisive and unstable leader.
Swing Around the Circle is the nickname for a speaking campaign undertaken by U.S. President Andrew Johnson between August 27 and September 15, 1866, in which he tried to gain support for his policies. The tour’s nickname came from the route that the campaign took: “Washington, D.C., to New York, west to Chicago, south to St. Louis, and east through the Ohio River valley back to the nation’s capital”.
Moreover, Johnson’s resistance to Congressional Reconstruction policies was viewed by many as a betrayal of the Union’s sacrifices during the Civil War. His frequent vetoes of legislation designed to protect Black Americans and his opposition to military enforcement of Reconstruction laws in the South deepened the perception that his administration was failing to uphold justice and equality.
The Impeachment Crisis
The final straw came with Johnson’s violation of the Tenure of Office Act, a law passed by Congress in 1867 to limit the president’s power to dismiss certain federal officials without Senate approval. Johnson tested the law by removing Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary of War and a staunch ally of the Radical Republicans, from his cabinet. Stanton’s removal was seen as a direct challenge to Congressional authority, prompting the House of Representatives to impeach Johnson in February 1868.
The impeachment articles focused on Johnson’s alleged abuse of power and violation of the Tenure of Office Act, though underlying political and ideological tensions played an equally significant role. The trial in the Senate became a highly publicized spectacle, with both sides arguing not only over the legality of Johnson’s actions but also over the future direction of the nation’s Reconstruction policies.
The Outcome and Legacy
Johnson narrowly avoided removal from office, with the Senate falling one vote short of the two-thirds majority required for conviction. His political career, however, was effectively over. Johnson served out the remainder of his term as a lame-duck president, leaving office in 1869 with little influence or support.
The impeachment of Andrew Johnson had far-reaching implications for Reconstruction and the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches. His acquittal emboldened Southern resistance to federal Reconstruction policies and signaled the waning influence of Radical Republicans. In the years that followed, Reconstruction efforts faltered, leading to the eventual rise of Jim Crow laws and the disenfranchisement of Black Americans.
A Scandalous Reflection of the Times
The impeachment of Andrew Johnson was not simply a personal scandal but a reflection of the deep divisions that defined the Reconstruction era. Johnson’s actions highlighted the nation’s struggle to reconcile the ideals of equality with the realities of political and racial discord. His impeachment underscored the challenges of governance in a time of profound social transformation, as well as the dangers of a leader unwilling to adapt to the demands of a rapidly changing society.
Andrew Johnson’s impeachment remains one of the most scandalous moments in U.S. political history, emblematic of the turbulent Reconstruction period. It revealed the fragility of post-war unity, the contentious dynamics between the branches of government, and the enduring struggle for civil rights. While Johnson survived the immediate fallout, his impeachment left an indelible mark on the presidency and the nation’s journey toward justice and equality.
Common FAQs
Which action by Andrew Johnson ultimately led to his impeachment?
By mid-1867, Johnson’s enemies in Congress were repeatedly promoting impeachment. The precipitant event that resulted in a third and successful impeachment action was the firing of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, a Lincoln appointee and ally of the Radical Republicans in Congress.
Why was Andrew Jackson removed from office?
On March 28, 1834, the United States Senate voted to censure U.S. President Andrew Jackson over his actions to remove federal deposits from the Second Bank of the United States and his firing of Secretary of the Treasury William J. Duane in order to do so.
Who became president after Andrew Johnson?
Republican Ulysses S. Grant succeeded Johnson as president.