To determine which option best accounts for the number of southern yea votes cast for Johnson's impeachment in 1868, we need to consider the political context of the time, particularly regarding the post-Civil War period.
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Southern states only had voting rights in the House of Representatives: This statement is misleading. Southern states had representatives in both houses, but their political representation had dramatically changed after the Civil War and during Reconstruction.
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Only a few southern representatives were Democrats: This might be true, as many southern representatives during this period were Republicans due to the political realignment following the Civil War. However, it doesn't directly explain the low number of yea votes.
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Only a few southern states have been readmitted to the Union: By the time of Johnson's impeachment, several Southern states had been readmitted, but they were often under significant federal oversight and had political dynamics skewed towards the Republican majority.
Among these options, the statement that "only a few southern states have been readmitted to the Union" is the most impactful. It reflects the reality of the political situation: many Southern representatives were either new to Congress or part of a shifting political landscape that was largely Republican after the Civil War. This underscores both the regional divisions in voting behavior and the limited power and political influence of Southern representatives during Johnson's impeachment process.
Thus, the best answer is that the political landscape was heavily influenced by Reconstruction policies, limiting the representation and influence of the South in the impeachment vote, and fewer southern members supporting impeachment reflects the Republican dominance in these newly returned states.