One law in particular led to bitter conflict. The Tenure of Office Act prevented the President from dismissing a Cabinet member without the consent of the Senate. Johnson said the act was unconstitutional because it violated the separation of powers. To make the Supreme Court rule on this law, Johnson fired Edwin P. Stanton who was Secretary of War.
             Everyone knew President Johnson had wanted to get rid of radical Republican Stanton. The House of Representatives charged that by this action, the President had tried "to bring into disgrace, ridicule, hatred, contempt, and reproach to the Congress of the United States."
             On February 24, 1868, the House approved eleven articles of impeachment against President Johnson. Then the case went to the Senate for trial.
             Only a majority vote was needed for impeachment in the House of Representatives, and a two-thirds majority was essential in the Senate to impeach the President. As the trial continued, many citizens felt as though this case against President Johnson was weak. When it came to a vote on the first two articles of impeachment, seven Republicans voted no, helping the Democrats. The vote was one short of the two-thirds majority necessary to impeach President Johnson.
             The case was dropped, and later Johnson became the first President to become a U.S. Senator after his term in office.
             I think the impeachment of Andrew Johnson was important to our country because we as citizens can know that no branch of our government has too much power. Congress can't get rid of a President because they don't like him. The System of Checks and Balances does work!
             Lincoln issued the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction in December 1863. Under this executive order, southern states were to be readmitted and allowed seats in Congress after 10% of the state's voters in 1863 swore oaths to allegiance to the Union and Constitution. States also had to accept the emancipation of slaves bef...