- In the aftermath of the Civil War, Andrew supported a quick re-admission of the Southern seccessionist states but the Republican majorities of both houses of Congress passed laws over his vetoes and instead established five military districts to oversee the newly created Southern state governments.
- Being overpowered politically, Johnson instead tried to use his power as commander-in-chief of the military to enforce provisions on this "Congressional Reconstruction." His control was still constrained by his Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, who was a Radical Republican who fully supported Congressional Reconstruction.
- The Tenure of Office Act restricted the President from suspending an officer while the senate was not in session and the President would be forced to reinstate said officer if the Congress declined to ratify the removal. Despite this, Johnson still suspended Stanton while the congress wasn't in session.
- When the Senate convened in 1868, it refused to ratify the removal. Johnson ignored this and still tried to appoint a new Secretary of War. Within days, Johnson was impeached and put on trial for the next three months. He avoided removal from office by one vote.