The actions that motivated Radical Republicans to seek the impeachment of President Johnson include:
- President Johnson encouraged former Confederate states to reject the Fourteenth Amendment.
- President Johnson fired several military commanders who supported Radical Reconstruction.
These actions were seen as undermining the goals of Radical Reconstruction and the protections for former slaves outlined in the Fourteenth Amendment. The other options, such as writing state constitutions and losing his temper, did not play a significant role in the motivations for impeachment.