Skip to main content

Why was Johnson put through the impeachment process? Did it work?

Technically, Andrew Johnson was impeached for violating the Tenure of Office Act, a measure passed by congressional Republicans that forced the President to consult the Senate before firing Cabinet officials. Johnson removed his political rival, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton from office in defiance of this law, and was duly impeached by Radical Republicans in the House of Representatives. As with most struggles between the President and Congress, the motives for impeachment went deeper. Johnson...

Technically, Andrew Johnson was impeached for violating the Tenure of Office Act, a measure passed by congressional Republicans that forced the President to consult the Senate before firing Cabinet officials. Johnson removed his political rival, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton from office in defiance of this law, and was duly impeached by Radical Republicans in the House of Representatives. As with most struggles between the President and Congress, the motives for impeachment went deeper. Johnson had consistently opposed the Reconstruction measures of House Republicans, vetoing the Civil Rights Act of 1866 as well as the Freedmen's Bureau, both of which were intended to protect the rights of black men and women in the South. So impeachment was a political move. Whether it "worked" or not largely depends on an understanding of how impeachment works. "Impeachment" is often used in popular discourse to mean the removal of the President. But in reality, impeachment is only the act of bringing charges against the President. This must be done by a majority of the House, as it was (by a very large majority) against Johnson. However, only the Senate, essentially acting as a jury, may actually remove a President, which can only be done by a two-thirds vote. After a very long deliberation, the Senate fell one vote short of the two-thirds vote needed for removal, so efforts to remove Johnson were not successful. But the very act of bringing charges against Johnson weakened the President, and he was able to stay in office only because he agreed in principle not to oppose the Reconstruction initiatives of his Radical Republican rivals. So the impeachment of Johnson ended up being a successful political gambit on their part.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can you analyze the poem "Absolution" by Siegfried Sassoon?

Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and... Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and the v...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more