Why was Andrew Johnson acquitted on charges of impeachment?

a. Many feared a constitutional crisis because, without a vice president in office, no one knew who would succeed Johnson as president.

b. No one would testify against him.

c. Johnson's lawyers assured moderate Republicans that he would behave for the rest of his term, so several voted to acquit him.

d. Leading Radical Republican Benjamin Wade brilliantly managed the president's defense.

e. Ulysses Grant urged Republicans to acquit Johnson because convicting him might hurt Grant's chances in the presidential election.

Question

Monserrat

History

22 January, 13:47

Why was Andrew Johnson acquitted on charges of impeachment?

a. Many feared a constitutional crisis because, without a vice president in office, no one knew who would succeed Johnson as president.

b. No one would testify against him.

c. Johnson's lawyers assured moderate Republicans that he would behave for the rest of his term, so several voted to acquit him.

d. Leading Radical Republican Benjamin Wade brilliantly managed the president's defense.

e. Ulysses Grant urged Republicans to acquit Johnson because convicting him might hurt Grant's chances in the presidential election.

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Answers (1)

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Francis Nelson · Answer 1

Answer: c. Johnson's lawyers assured moderate Republicans that he would behave for the rest of his term, so several voted to acquit him

Explanation:

The votes of about seven moderate Republicans in addition to 12 Democrats Senators gave an edge to President Johnson in what many scholars have termed a weak case for impeachment who was voted guilty by 35 Senators.

The reason why he was acquitted despite the charges against him for impeachment was that the votes that convicted him fell short of a two-thirds majority.