The President subsequently ignored the Tenure of Office Act and suspended Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War and a prominent cabinet member. This action led to the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson.

Events leading to the Tenure of Office Act
The events leading up to the Tenure of Office Act were due to the conflict between President Andrew Johnson and the radical Republicans in Congress over the Reconstruction of the South. In April 1865, Vice President Andrew Johnson, a Southern Democrat, assumed the Presidency following the assassination of President Lincoln. Johnson adopts the Reconstruction plans of Lincoln but on December 1, 1865 President Johnson abruptly declared the end to Reconstruction. Congress was outraged, and Radical Republicans refuse to recognize the new governments in southern states who were attempting to restore self-rule.

The Southern states had passed the notorious Black Codes during 1865 -1866 and were reluctant to ratify the 13th Amendment. President Johnson further infuriated Congress by vetoing an extension to the Freedmen's Bureau and the Republicans responded by passing the Civil Rights Act of 1866 overriding the President's veto. The Congressional elections of November, 1866, were greatly in favor of the radical Republicans and in support of their policy for reconstruction. Congress passed the first of the Reconstruction Acts which gave them military control of the South.

When was the Tenure of Office Act passed?
Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act on March 2, 1867.

Why did Congress pass the Tenure of Office Act?
Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act to limit the President's powers and prevent President Andrew Johnson dismissing radical Republicans from office. They hoped that the Tenure of Office Act would to assure the continuance in office of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton and therefore prevent any interference with the military occupation of the South in the Congressional Reconstruction plan. Edwin Stanton was a valuable member of the existing cabinet and a firm supporter of the Radical Republican's Reconstruction policies and was openly opposed to President Johnson.

What were the provisions of the Tenure of Office Act?
The provisions of the Tenure of Office Act were that:

• It forbade the President to remove any federal officeholder appointed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate without the further approval of the Senate

• It also provided that members of the President's cabinet should hold office for the full term of the President who appointed them and one month thereafter, subject to removal by the Senate

Tenure of Office Act for kids: The Reaction of President Johnson
President Johnson tried and failed to veto the Tenure of Office Act. Ever since the formation of the United States government the Presidents had removed officers when they saw fit. The Tenure of Office Act required the consent of the Senate to removals as well as to appointments. Johnson believed that the Tenure of Office Act was unconstitutional.

Tenure of Office Act for kids: Edwin Stanton
In December 1867 President Johnson ignored the Tenure of Office Act and suspended Edwin Stanton from office. Stanton refused to budge and barricaded himself in his office claiming that the Tenure of Office Act protected him. The House of Representatives invoked the new Tenure of Office Act to initiate Impeachment proceedings against President Johnson. In the history of the United States there have only been two Impeached Presidents - both were acquitted.

Tenure of Office Act for kids: The Aftermath
The Tenure of Office Act was partly repealed partly in 1869 and entirely cancelled in 1887. In 1926 the Tenure of Office Act was declared by the U.S. Supreme Court to have been unconstitutional