What caused Johnsons impeachment?

Answer 1

President Andrew Johnson was primarily impeached for violating the 1867 Tenure of Office Act. Some of the other charges included violating the Command of the Army Act and libeling Congress with "inflammatory and scandalous harangues."

Explanation

The Tenure of Office Act prohibited the President from firing any official who had been placed in office with the "advice and consent" of the Senate unless the Senate also approved the removal.

President Johnson wanted to replace Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, whom Lincoln had appointed Secretary of War in 1862. Stanton had informed the President that the military chain of command had been changed, and that the Southern military leaders would henceforth answer only to Congress, and not the President.

In August 1867, Johnson responded by attempting to fire Stanton and replace him with Ulysses S. Grant, but the Senate supported Stanton and refused to confirm Grant's appointment and reinstated Stanton against the President's wishes. In February 1868, Johnson appointed Lorenzo Thomas as the new Secretary of War and ordered the Southern military leaders to report directly to him.

Stanton refused to step down, instead barricading himself in his office where he lived for three days until the House of Representatives brought eleven Articles of impeachment against Andrew Johnson for "high crimes and misdemeanors," among them violating the Tenure of Office Act in defiance of the Senate.

Johnson was impeached by a vote of 126-47 on February 24, 1868, but was acquitted by a single vote (35-19) at the conclusion of his Senate removal trial on May 16, 1868. Johnson completed his Presidential term and left office March 4, 1869. He was succeeded by Ulysses S. Grant.

Answer 2

The technical excuse was his dismissal of Edwin M Stanton as Secretary of War, in breach of the (doubtfully constitutional) Tenure of Office Act. The real reason was that he disagreed with Congressional policies in regard to the readmission of Southern states, and they were looking for a way to get rid of an opponent.

Answer 3

The most direct charge against Johnson was his violation of the Tenure of Office act which required him to get approval from Congress to fire cabinet members. He fired Secretary of War Stanton without approval. He argued that the president had a right to choose his cabinet . (Stanton was appointed by Lincoln.)