President Andrew Johnson: Reconstruction & The First Impeachment

American History Hit

History Hit

History, America

4.3 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 28 March 2024

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Three quarters of a million people dead in the Civil War. A country separated in to two. How do you join it back together? Do you punish the secessionists? How do you grapple with the question of enslavement? And who do you choose to be at the controls?

When Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, his Vice President, Andrew Johnson, became President. Johnson was a Southerner who had sided with the Union during the war. To hear how his standpoint impacted on his policy in the aftermath of the war, Don speaks to Erik B Alexander.

Erik is an Associate Professor of American History at Souther Illinois University.

Produced by Sophie Gee. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	The President,
0:05.0	and Vice President and all civil officers of the United States,
0:09.0	shall be removed from office on impeachment for and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
0:17.0	It's 1868 and the United States Congress conducts its first ever impeachment trial of a U.S. President,
0:23.5	Andrew Johnson.
0:25.0	Eleven articles of impeachment are approved by the House.
0:28.2	The charges are as follows.
0:30.4	One, violation of the Tenure of Office Act by dismissing Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, without
0:37.2	Senate approval.
0:39.1	Two and three, further violations of this Act in hiring Stanton's replacement.
0:45.0	Four through seven, the high crime in office of conspiracy to deprive Stanton of his office.
0:51.0	Eight, unlawfully seizing the property of the Department of War in appointing his replacement.
0:57.0	9. Diverting orders passed the Secretary of War to the General of the Army.
1:02.0	10. Hmm.
1:04.0	Making speeches, quote, with a loud voice, certain intemperate, inflammatory, and scandalous orangs.
1:11.0	And did therein utter loud threats and bitter menaces against Congress amid
1:16.0	the cries, jeers, and laughter of the multitudes then assembled and within hearing.
1:21.4	Unquote.
1:22.4	11.
1:23.0	Failing to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
1:27.3	The first presidential trial would be something to see.
1:30.4	A thousand tickets were printed for each day of the Senate trial.
	...

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