Thaddeus Stevens feels Andrew Johnson should be impeached because he believes Johnson has failed to uphold his constitutional duties as President. According to Stevens, Johnson has not faithfully executed the laws and has overstepped his authority, which he views as a direct violation of Johnson's official oath. Stevens argues that the President's primary duty is to obey and enforce the laws of the nation, and any attempt to act outside of that responsibility warrants impeachment.
To be impeached means to be formally charged with misconduct while in office. Impeachment is a constitutional process that allows Congress to remove a president or other federal officials from their positions if they are found guilty of "high crimes and misdemeanors."
Some reasons Andrew Johnson was impeached include:
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Violation of the Tenure of Office Act: Johnson attempted to remove Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War, from his position, which many viewed as a violation of this law meant to restrict the president’s power to remove certain officeholders without the Senate's approval.
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Failure to Enforce Reconstruction Laws: Johnson was criticized for not fully supporting the Reconstruction efforts put forth by Congress, which aimed to rebuild and integrate the Southern states after the Civil War.
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Abuse of Presidential Power: He was accused of undermining the authority of Congress and exhibiting a lack of respect for the legislative branch, particularly regarding civil rights and the protection of newly freed slaves.
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Public Statements: Johnson’s inflammatory speeches and public statements often contradicted the policies of Reconstruction and inflamed tensions, leading to resentment among Republican lawmakers.
These reasons contributed to the belief among Stevens and others in Congress that Johnson's actions warranted impeachment.
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