Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson

During the Reconstruction Era, the first impeachment of a sitting President, President Johnson, occurred on February 24, 1868. It was a result of his firing and replacement of Edwin Stanton, which violated the Tenure Office Act—an act designed to protect Edwin Stanton. There were eleven articles describing his “high crimes and misdemeanors,” which were presented as the supporting basis of his impeachment. Upon the completion of the trial, Johnson was acquitted as a result of the total votes being one less than the required number for conviction. Following the trial, the Tenure Office Act was declared invalid and was abolished by Congress; later rulings by the Supreme Court were in favor of Johnson’s stance to fire without approval from Congress. Therefore, the Tenure Office Act can be considered unethical, as well as the impeachment of President Johnson.