Civil War and Reconstruction
Johnson losing political power was one result of his impeachment. What other repercussions or results did this event have?
President Johnson’s impeachment immediately resulted in his unpopularity. Johnson did not to receive the Democratic nomination for president and decided not to run for reelection in 1868. Many Americans had negative views about him, and were more attracted to the Civil War hero, General Ulysses S. Grant, who easily won the Republican nomination.
Johnson’s impeachment also had a long term effect on American government. It changed the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of government, and helped determine why and when impeachment should be used. Members of Congress would no longer seek more control over federal policies or the authority to regulate or decrease the president’s power.
Congress also could no longer threaten the president with impeachment in order to settle policy issues. Congress’s reluctance to use impeachment as a tool is shown by the fact that no president was impeached for more than 130 years. In future trials the president could only be considered for impeachment if he committed an actual crime and not merely for disagreeing with Congress.Civil War and Reconstruction >> Reconstruction >> Andrew Johnson >> Impeachment
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