The impeachment of Andrew Johnson in 1868 was an important moment in American history. It showed how divided the country was during the Reconstruction Era, a time after the Civil War when the country was trying to heal and rebuild. Several key issues were at play, including new efforts for Civil Rights and the changing power between different groups in the government.

Background Context

• After the Civil War, the United States had to figure out how to bring the Southern states back into the country and protect the rights of African Americans who had just been freed.
• A group called the Radical Republicans emerged within the Republican Party. They strongly supported civil rights and wanted to punish the Southern states that had fought against the Union.
• This group aimed to limit the power of Southern Democrats and make sure that the rights of freed African Americans were safeguarded. They created several Reconstruction Acts to put these ideas into action.

Impeachment Actions

• Andrew Johnson became president after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. He was a Southern Democrat and believed in being easy on the South.
• Johnson often disagreed with the Radical Republicans, especially about Reconstruction plans.
• In 1867, Congress created the Tenure of Office Act, which made it hard for the president to fire certain officials without asking the Senate first. This was mainly to protect Radical Republican members in the cabinet.
• Johnson broke this law when he tried to remove Edwin Stanton, his Secretary of War. This led to his impeachment.

Political Significance

• On February 24, 1868, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson. The vote was 126 in favor and 47 against, showing the power of the Radical Republicans.
• The Senate trial started on March 5, 1868, and ended in a vote on May 16. Johnson was not removed from office, as he failed to get the two-thirds majority needed to be impeached. The final vote was 35 guilty and 19 not guilty.

Statistics and Consequences

• Johnson's impeachment was the first time in U.S. history that a sitting president faced such charges, creating a new standard for American politics.
• The close vote in the Senate highlighted the deep divisions in Congress and across the country concerning Reconstruction and civil rights.
• The impeachment trial showed the limits of presidential power, demonstrating that Congress had significant control over the presidency.

Rise of Radical Republicanism

• After the impeachment, the Radical Republicans grew even stronger in Congress. They pushed for important laws, like the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to everyone born in the U.S. and ensured equal protection under the law, and the 15th Amendment, which made it illegal to deny someone the right to vote based on their race.
• The Radical Republicans had a major impact, helping to establish crucial rights for African Americans, though many in the South continued to resist these changes.

Long-Term Implications

• Although Johnson was not removed from office, his impeachment showed how fierce the political battles were after the Civil War. It set a standard that limited the president's power and strengthened Congress's role in government.
• The fight between presidential power and Congress's control continued throughout U.S. history, affecting later conflicts and the balance of power.

In summary, Andrew Johnson’s impeachment was a key moment during the Reconstruction Era. It highlighted the intense political struggles of the time, the rise of Radical Republicanism, and shaped how the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government interacted in the future.