Question

in 1868, president andrew johnson was impeached after he removed secretary of war edwin stanton from office without first getting approval from the senate. president johnson was impeached because he had violated which law?

a. the tenure of office act
b. the morrill act
c. the kansas-nebraska act
d. the civil rights act of 1866

Explanation:

🆕 New Concept Discovered: Constitutional Checks and Balances
Limits on executive power by Congress

Step 1: Analyze the historical context

In 1867, Congress passed a federal law specifically designed to limit the power of the President to remove certain officeholders without the approval of the Senate. This was during the Reconstruction Era, a period of intense political conflict between President Andrew Johnson and the Radical Republicans in Congress.

Step 2: Identify the specific law violated

When President Andrew Johnson suspended and then attempted to formally remove Secretary of War Edwin Stanton in 1867–1868 without Senate approval, he directly challenged this law. The law in question was the Tenure of Office Act.

Step 3: Evaluate the other options

• B. the Morrill Act: This law (1862) provided land grants to states to establish colleges specializing in agriculture and the mechanic arts.
• C. the Kansas-Nebraska Act: This law (1854) allowed popular sovereignty to decide the issue of slavery in new territories, preceding the Civil War.
• D. the Civil Rights Act of 1866: This law defined citizenship and affirmed that all citizens are equally protected by the law, mainly protecting the rights of newly freed African Americans.

Therefore, the correct option is A.

Answer:

A. the Tenure of Office Act