Who Was the First President Impeached?

In the annals of American history, the impeachment of a president is a rare and momentous occasion. To date, only three presidents have been impeached by the United States House of Representatives: Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump. While none of these presidents were convicted and removed from office by the Senate, their impeachments nevertheless stand as significant events that tested the boundaries of presidential power and the American constitutional system.

The first president to face impeachment proceedings was Andrew Johnson. A Democrat from Tennessee, Johnson assumed the presidency in 1865 following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. However, his Reconstruction policies, which were seen as too lenient towards the defeated Confederacy, drew the ire of many Radical Republicans in Congress. In 1868, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson on 11 articles of impeachment, charging him with "high crimes and misdemeanors." The charges stemmed from Johnson's attempt to dismiss Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, which violated the Tenure of Office Act.

Who Was the First President Impeached?

Here are six important points about the first president impeached:

• Andrew Johnson
• 11 articles of impeachment
• Tenure of Office Act
• House of Representatives
• No Senate conviction
• Reconstruction policies

Andrew Johnson was the first president to be impeached by the House of Representatives, but he was not convicted by the Senate and remained in office.

Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson, a Democrat from Tennessee, became the 17th president of the United States in 1865 following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Johnson's presidency was marked by turmoil and conflict, particularly over his Reconstruction policies for the defeated Confederacy.

Johnson's Reconstruction plan was more lenient towards the South than many Radical Republicans in Congress desired. He sought to quickly restore the seceded states to the Union without requiring them to grant voting rights to African Americans. This approach angered many Republicans, who believed that the South needed to be punished for its role in the Civil War and that African Americans deserved the right to vote.

In 1867, Congress passed the Reconstruction Acts over Johnson's veto. These acts divided the South into military districts and required the states to ratify the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to African Americans, before they could be readmitted to the Union. Johnson clashed with Congress over the Reconstruction Acts, and he was eventually impeached by the House of Representatives in 1868.

The House impeached Johnson on 11 articles of impeachment, charging him with "high crimes and misdemeanors." The charges stemmed from Johnson's attempt to dismiss Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, which violated the Tenure of Office Act. The Tenure of Office Act prohibited the president from removing certain government officials without the consent of the Senate.

The Senate held a trial to consider the impeachment charges against Johnson. However, the Senate failed to convict Johnson by the required two-thirds majority, and he remained in office.

11 Articles of Impeachment

The 11 articles of impeachment against Andrew Johnson can be broadly categorized into two groups: those related to his violation of the Tenure of Office Act and those related to his obstruction of Congress's Reconstruction policies.

• Violating the Tenure of Office Act

Three articles of impeachment charged Johnson with violating the Tenure of Office Act, which prohibited the president from removing certain government officials without the consent of the Senate. Johnson had attempted to dismiss Secretary of War Edwin Stanton without Senate approval.

The remaining eight articles of impeachment charged Johnson with obstructing Congress's Reconstruction policies. These articles accused Johnson of making speeches that undermined Reconstruction, issuing orders that interfered with the enforcement of Reconstruction laws, and conspiring with others to hinder the execution of Reconstruction.

The House of Representatives approved all 11 articles of impeachment against Johnson in February 1868. However, the Senate failed to convict Johnson by the required two-thirds majority, and he remained in office.

Tenure of Office Act

The Tenure of Office Act was a law passed by the United States Congress in 1867 over the veto of President Andrew Johnson. The act prohibited the president from removing certain government officials, including cabinet members and ambassadors, without the consent of the Senate. The law was intended to limit the president's power and to prevent him from undermining Reconstruction efforts in the South.

Johnson was a strong opponent of the Tenure of Office Act. He believed that it violated the Constitution and that it would make it impossible for him to effectively carry out his duties as president. Johnson also believed that the act was unconstitutional because it interfered with his power to appoint and remove executive officials.

In February 1868, Johnson attempted to dismiss Secretary of War Edwin Stanton without the consent of the Senate. Stanton was a Radical Republican who was opposed to Johnson's Reconstruction policies. Johnson's attempt to remove Stanton was seen as a violation of the Tenure of Office Act, and it led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives.

The Senate held a trial to consider the impeachment charges against Johnson. However, the Senate failed to convict Johnson by the required two-thirds majority, and he remained in office. The Tenure of Office Act was repealed in 1887.

The Tenure of Office Act was a significant factor in the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. It was one of the main reasons why the House of Representatives voted to impeach him, and it was a major point of contention during his Senate trial.

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives played a central role in the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. It was the House that voted to impeach Johnson, and it was also the House that served as the prosecution team during his Senate trial.

The House began its impeachment investigation of Johnson in December 1867. The Judiciary Committee of the House held hearings and gathered evidence against Johnson. The committee eventually recommended that the House impeach Johnson on 11 articles of impeachment.

On February 24, 1868, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson on all 11 articles of impeachment. The vote was largely along party lines, with Republicans voting in favor of impeachment and Democrats voting against it. Johnson was the first president in American history to be impeached by the House of Representatives.

After the House impeached Johnson, the Senate held a trial to consider the charges against him. The House appointed a team of seven managers, or prosecutors, to present the case against Johnson. The Senate sat as the jury, and Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase presided over the trial.

The Senate trial lasted for over two months. The prosecution team presented evidence and arguments against Johnson, while Johnson's defense team presented evidence and arguments in his defense. In the end, the Senate failed to convict Johnson by the required two-thirds majority, and he remained in office.

No Senate Conviction

The Senate trial of Andrew Johnson began on March 30, 1868, and lasted for over two months. The prosecution team presented evidence and arguments against Johnson, while Johnson's defense team presented evidence and arguments in his defense.

The key issue in the trial was whether Johnson had violated the Tenure of Office Act by dismissing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton without the consent of the Senate. The prosecution team argued that Johnson had violated the law and that he should be removed from office. Johnson's defense team argued that the Tenure of Office Act was unconstitutional and that Johnson had the right to dismiss Stanton.

The Senate voted on the impeachment charges against Johnson on May 16, 1868. The vote was taken on each article of impeachment separately. Johnson was acquitted on all 11 articles of impeachment. The vote to convict Johnson on the most serious charge, violating the Tenure of Office Act, was 35-19, which was short of the required two-thirds majority.

The Senate's failure to convict Johnson was a major victory for the president. It meant that he would remain in office and that he would be able to continue to carry out his policies.

The Senate's decision not to convict Johnson was controversial. Some people believed that Johnson should have been removed from office for violating the Tenure of Office Act. Others believed that the Senate had made the right decision because the Tenure of Office Act was unconstitutional.

Reconstruction Policies

Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction policies were a major factor in his impeachment. Radical Republicans in Congress believed that Johnson's policies were too lenient towards the South and that they did not do enough to protect the rights of African Americans.

• Presidential Reconstruction

Johnson's initial Reconstruction plan was based on the idea of "presidential Reconstruction." Under this plan, Johnson would appoint provisional governors in the Southern states. These governors would then call conventions to write new state constitutions. The new constitutions would have to be approved by the president before the states could be readmitted to the Union.

Radical Republicans in Congress were unhappy with Johnson's Reconstruction plan. They believed that it was too lenient towards the South and that it did not do enough to protect the rights of African Americans. In 1867, Congress passed the Reconstruction Acts over Johnson's veto. The Reconstruction Acts divided the South into military districts and required the states to ratify the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to African Americans, before they could be readmitted to the Union.

Johnson opposed the Reconstruction Acts and he refused to enforce them. He also made speeches that were critical of Reconstruction. Johnson's opposition to Congressional Reconstruction led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives impeached Johnson on 11 articles of impeachment, including charges that he had violated the Tenure of Office Act and that he had obstructed Congress's Reconstruction policies. The Senate held a trial to consider the impeachment charges against Johnson, but he was acquitted on all charges.

Johnson's Reconstruction policies were a major factor in his impeachment. His opposition to Congressional Reconstruction led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives, and his acquittal by the Senate was a major victory for the president.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about the first president impeached:

Question 1: Who was the first president impeached?

Answer: Andrew Johnson was the first president impeached.

Question 2: Why was Andrew Johnson impeached?

Answer: Andrew Johnson was impeached for violating the Tenure of Office Act and for obstructing Congress's Reconstruction policies.

Question 3: What was the Tenure of Office Act?

Answer: The Tenure of Office Act was a law that prohibited the president from removing certain government officials, including cabinet members and ambassadors, without the consent of the Senate.

Question 4: What were Johnson's Reconstruction policies?

Answer: Johnson's Reconstruction policies were based on the idea of "presidential Reconstruction." Under this plan, Johnson would appoint provisional governors in the Southern states. These governors would then call conventions to write new state constitutions. The new constitutions would have to be approved by the president before the states could be readmitted to the Union.

Question 5: Why did Congress oppose Johnson's Reconstruction policies?

Answer: Radical Republicans in Congress believed that Johnson's Reconstruction policies were too lenient towards the South and that they did not do enough to protect the rights of African Americans.

Question 6: Was Johnson convicted by the Senate?

Answer: No, Johnson was acquitted by the Senate on all charges.

Question 7: What was the significance of Johnson's impeachment?

Answer: Johnson's impeachment was a significant event in American history. It was the first time that a president had been impeached by the House of Representatives. Johnson's acquittal by the Senate was a major victory for the president and it helped to preserve the balance of power between the president and Congress.

These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about the first president impeached. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

In addition to the information provided in this article, here are some additional tips for learning more about the first president impeached:

Tips

Here are four tips for learning more about the first president impeached:

Tip 1: Read books and articles about Andrew Johnson.

There are many books and articles available about Andrew Johnson and his presidency. These resources can provide you with a detailed understanding of Johnson's life, his policies, and his impeachment.

Tip 2: Visit historical sites related to Andrew Johnson.

There are several historical sites related to Andrew Johnson that you can visit. These sites include the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Greeneville, Tennessee, and the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's home in Nashville, Tennessee. Visiting these sites can help you to learn more about Johnson and his times.

Tip 3: Watch documentaries about Andrew Johnson.

There are a number of documentaries available about Andrew Johnson. These documentaries can provide you with a concise overview of Johnson's life and presidency. They can also help you to understand the context in which Johnson's impeachment took place.

Tip 4: Talk to experts about Andrew Johnson.

If you have the opportunity, talk to experts about Andrew Johnson. This could include historians, political scientists, or museum curators. Experts can provide you with valuable insights into Johnson's life and presidency.

By following these tips, you can learn more about Andrew Johnson, the first president impeached.

Andrew Johnson's impeachment was a significant event in American history. It was the first time that a president had been impeached by the House of Representatives. Johnson's acquittal by the Senate was a major victory for the president and it helped to preserve the balance of power between the president and Congress.

Conclusion

Andrew Johnson's impeachment was a significant event in American history. It was the first time that a president had been impeached by the House of Representatives. Johnson's acquittal by the Senate was a major victory for the president and it helped to preserve the balance of power between the president and Congress.

Johnson's impeachment was the culmination of a long and bitter conflict between the president and Congress over Reconstruction policies. Johnson's Reconstruction plan was more lenient towards the South than many Radical Republicans in Congress desired. They believed that Johnson's policies would allow the old Confederate leaders to regain power in the South and that they would not do enough to protect the rights of African Americans.

The House of Representatives impeached Johnson on 11 articles of impeachment, including charges that he had violated the Tenure of Office Act and that he had obstructed Congress's Reconstruction policies. The Senate held a trial to consider the impeachment charges against Johnson, but he was acquitted on all charges.

Johnson's impeachment was a reminder of the limits of presidential power. It also showed that the system of checks and balances established by the Constitution can work to prevent a president from abusing his power.

In the end, Johnson's impeachment was a failure for the Radical Republicans. They were unable to remove Johnson from office and their Reconstruction policies were ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court.

The impeachment of Andrew Johnson is a reminder that the American system of government is designed to be a delicate balance of power between the different branches of government. When one branch becomes too powerful, the others can step in to check its power.