Final answer:
The impeachment of Andrew Johnson was primarily due to a constitutional clash between the presidency and Congress during Reconstruction. The Radical Republicans in Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act to restrict Johnson's power and protect their interests, leading to his impeachment when he violated the Act.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Underlying Reason for the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
The main reason Andrew Johnson was impeached was due to a constitutional power struggle between him and the Radical Republicans in Congress during the period of Reconstruction. The Radical Republicans attempted to limit presidential power and strengthen Congressional authority, which led to the passage of the Tenure of Office Act in 1867. This Act aimed to curtail the President's ability to remove cabinet officials without Senate approval, specifically to protect Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, a Radical Republican ally. Johnson violated the Act by attempting to remove Stanton, leading the House to impeach him for "high crimes and misdemeanors" on the grounds of overstepping his constitutional powers.
The broader context of this was the differing visions for Reconstruction. The Radicals sought to transform Southern society, including granting civil rights to freed slaves, and they viewed Johnson's more lenient approach as an impediment. Although impeached, Johnson was acquitted by a narrow margin in the Senate trial, escaping removal from office by one vote.
The impeachment of Andrew Johnson is important because it reflected the tensions of the era and the continued struggle over the balance of power in the federal government. While unsuccessful in removing Johnson, the impeachment did weaken his authority, allowing Congress to proceed with its Reconstruction agenda with less interference from the presidency.