mar 30, 1868 - Andrew Johnson's Trial
Description:
Johnson's trial lasted for 11 weeks. Johnson's lawyers argued that Johnson was merely seeking a court test by violating the Tenure of Office Act, which he thought was unconstitutional. They also stated that the law did not protect Secretary Stanton as he was appointed by Lincoln and not Johnson. His opponents countered that impeachment was a political process, not a criminal trial, and that Johnson's "abuse of discretionary power" was an impeachable offense. At the end, the Senate was one vote short of the two-thirds majority for the impeachment of Andrew Johnson.
Added to timeline:
Reconstruction 1/13/2018
Date:
