Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson
After the Civil War, President Andrew Johnson and Congress were divided on how to rebuild the former Confederacy. Johnson saw reconstructing the South as an executive responsibility and vetoed all congressional initiatives. Tensions between the President and Congress reached the boiling point when Johnson fired Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, violating the Tenure of Office Act. On February 24, 1868 the outraged House voted in favor of a resolution to impeach the President. The subsequent Senate trial resulted with Johnson escaping removal from office by one vote.
Resolution of Impeachment for President Andrew Johnson, February 21, 1868 (front); Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, RG 233.
Resolution of Impeachment for President Andrew Johnson, February 21, 1868 (endorsement); Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, RG 233.
This is just one of many congressional records relating to Johnson's impeachment held by the Center for Legislative Archives. Search the House and Senate Guides for more records relating to Johnson's—and other—impeachment cases.
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