What were the specific articles of impeachment against President Andrew Johnson?

Answer 1

Summary of Eleven Articles of Impeachment against President Andrew Johnson, February 24, 1868:

Article 1 Summary: High Misdemeanor, Tenure of Office Act

On February 21, 1868, issued a written order for the removal of Edwin M. Stanton from the Office of Secretary of the Department of War in defiance of the Senate's decision to reinstate Stanton following President Johnson's prior attempt to suspend Stanton without just cause in August of 1867.

Article 2 Summary: High Misdemeanor, Tenure of Office Act

Appointed Lorenzo Thomas to be interim Secretary of War without the advice and consent of the Senate in violation of the Tenure of Office Act.

Article 3 Summary: High Misdemeanor, unspecified

Appointed Lorenzo Thomas, without the advice and consent of the Senate, while the Senate was in session, to an office for which there was no vacancy.

Article 4 Summary: High Crime, Conspiracy

Conspired with Lorenzo Thomas and with unnamed members of the House of Representatives to hinder and prevent Edwin Stanton from performing his duties as Secretary for the Department of War by the use of intimidation and threats, in violation of "An act to define and punish certain conspiracies," of July 31, 1861.

Article 5 Summary: High Misdemeanor, Tenure of Office Act

Conspired with Lorenzo Thomas and with unnamed members of the House of Representatives to hinder and prevent Edwin Stanton from holding office as Secretary for the Department of War by the use of force.

Article 6 Summary: High Crime, Conspiracy

Conspired with Lorenzo Thomas to "seize, take and possess the property of the United States at the War Department," in violation of "An act to define and punish certain conspiracies."

Article 7 Summary: High Misdemeanor, Tenure of Office Act

Conspired with Lorenzo Thomas to hinder execution of the Tenure of Office Act by preventing Edwin M. Stanton, official Secretary for the Department of War, from holding the office to which he'd been appointed and commissioned.

Article 8 Summary: High Misdemeanor, Tenure of Office Act

Conspired with Lorenzo Thomas to "seize, take and possess the property of the United States at the War Department," with the intent to violate and disregard "An act regulating the tenure of certain civil office," of March 2, 1867.

Article 9 Summary: High Misdemeanor, Command of Army Act

Instructed Major-General William H. Emory, in command of the Department of Washington and its military forces, to report to and take orders directly from him (Johnson) instead of the General of the Army of the United States, in violation of "an act for making appropriations for the support of the army for the year ending June 30, 1868, and for other purposes," of March 2, 1867.

Article 10 Summary: High Misdemeanor, brought ridicule, contempt and disgrace upon Congress

"...did attempt to bring into disgrace, ridicule, hatred, contempt and reproach, the Congress of the United States, and the several branches thereof, to impair and destroy the regard and respect of all the good people of the United States for the Congress..." by making a public speech against Congress, "Which said utterances, declarations, threats and harangues, highly censurable in any, are peculiarly indecent and unbecoming in the Chief Magistrate of the United States, by means whereof the said Andrew Johnson has brought the high office of the President of the United States into contempt, ridicule and disgrace, to the great scandal of all good citizens..."

Article 11 Summary: High Misdemeanor, (Something akin to Libel)

Publicly declared the 39th Congress was not a Congress. Denied and intended to deny legislation passed by Congress was valid and disregarded his constitutional obligation to adhere to various Acts of Congress, including "An act regulating the tenure of certain civil office," "An act making appropriations for the support of the army for the fiscal year ending June 30,1868, and for other purposes," and "An act to provide for the more efficient government of the Rebel States." Obstructed and prevented execution of lawful government acts.

To view the full text of the Articles of Impeachment against Andrew Johnson, see Related Links, below.