The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

A ticket stub from the Impeachment Trial

Since President Johnson could not block the new state governments, he tried to weaken them.
- Planned to get rid of Edwin Stanton
- Couldn't remove Stanton without Senate's approval (Tenure of Office Act)
     - Waited until Congress was out of session and suspended Stanton
     - Told Grant to take over War Office until Senate reconvened.
- Congress reconvened and refused to "endorse" suspension of Stanton.  
- Johnson furious that Congress put Stanton back in office and outright dismissed him.  
     - Direct violation of Tenure of Office Act
- Johnson impeached for this act and 10 other charges.
- Impeachment trial lasted 8 weeks
- Spared impeachment by one vote.
Even though he was not impeached, being tried for impeachment essentially zapped all of Johnson's political influence.

The Confederate States were back in the Union, the biased President's reign was nearly over, and the country appeared to be unified again.

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