Changes

Johnson had no party affiliation 1865-68, but was usually supported by Democrats. After leaving the White House he returned to the Democratic party. He was elected to the Senate shortly before his death, becoming the first and only ex-president to serve in the Senate.  

Johnson had no party affiliation 1865-68, but was usually supported by Democrats. After leaving the White House he returned to the Democratic party. He was elected to the Senate shortly before his death, becoming the first and only ex-president to serve in the Senate.  

==Impeachment==

==Impeachment==

When Johnson tried to fire the Secretary of War, the House, controlled by Radical Republican [[Thaddeus Stevens]], impeached him.  He was the first President to be [[impeachment|impeached]]. The reason for impeachment, ostensibly his violation of the Tenure of Office Act, was actually his systematic defiance of Congress and his refusal to enforce the laws. Johnson did technically violate the Tenure of Office Act, which denied him the power to dismiss presidential appointees without the Senate's permission.  This act was designed to protect Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary of war under president Lincoln who had been held over in Johnson's cabinet.

When Johnson tried to fire the Secretary of War, the House, controlled by Radical Republican [[Thaddeus Stevens]], impeached him.  He was the first President to be [[impeachment|impeached]]. The reason for impeachment, ostensibly his violation of the Tenure of Office Act, was actually his systematic defiance of Congress and his refusal to enforce the laws. Johnson did technically violate the Tenure of Office Act, which denied him the power to dismiss presidential appointees without the Senate's permission.  This act was designed to protect Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary of war under president Lincoln who had been held over in Johnson's cabinet.

The Senate was one vote shy of the 2/3 needed to convict, so Johnson was not removed in 1868, but he was almost powerless in domestic affairs.  

The Senate was one vote shy of the 2/3 needed to convict, so Johnson was not removed in 1868, but he was almost powerless in domestic affairs.

 

==Views on race==

==Views on race==

* "This is a country for white men, and by God, as long as I am President, it shall be a government for white men.  Everyone would, and must, admit that the white race is superior to the black." [http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/04/post_11.html]

* "This is a country for white men, and by God, as long as I am President, it shall be a government for white men.  Everyone would, and must, admit that the white race is superior to the black." [http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/04/post_11.html]

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

* [http://www.andrewjohnson.com/09ImpeachmentAndAcquittal/ImpeachmentAndAcquittal.htm Series of [[Harper's Weekly]] articles covering the impeachment controversy and trial]

* [http://www.andrewjohnson.com/09ImpeachmentAndAcquittal/ImpeachmentAndAcquittal.htm Series of [[Harper's Weekly]] articles covering the impeachment controversy and trial]

*[http://starship.python.net/crew/manus/Presidents/aj2/aj2obit.html Johnson's obituary, from the ''New York Times'']

*[http://starship.python.net/crew/manus/Presidents/aj2/aj2obit.html Johnson's obituary, from the ''New York Times'']

==References==

==References==

<references/>

<references/>

{{USPresidents}}

{{USPresidents}}

{{USVicePresidents}}

{{USVicePresidents}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Andrew}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Andrew}}

[[Category:Presidents of the United States]]

[[Category:Presidents of the United States]]

[[Category:Vice Presidents of the United States]]

[[Category:Vice Presidents of the United States]]