Hi. I know this seems like an implausible Idea, and it partly is, but I always wondered what really would have happened if President Johnson had been impeached, nothing really outlines in the Constitution (besides succession) what to do next, and I was wondering what might have happened if reaction to the nation's first impeachment had caused a new Constitutional Convention, where a Parliament form of Government, to lessen the power of "Corrupt Executives" was implemented.
Well, here it goes, be nice.
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1868, American Parliament
For three years after the tragic assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, The Republican dominated Congress and President Andrew Johnson of Tennessee had clashed on virtually all issues from Reconstruction to Amnesty to the defeated South. Johnson had wanted to clear all Radical Republicans out of his cabinet, and to do so, fired Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.
The House of Representatives, led by Radical Republicans, easily passed a resolution impeaching the President for his actions 127 to 46. Even though the trial had actually been very misleading and biased in favor of those favoring impeachment.
On March 26, 1868, President Andrew Johnson was impeached by the Senate of the United States from the presidency for violating the Tenure of Office Act by firing the secretary of War, Edwin Stanton. The vote had been 36- 18, just one away from the President being saved from impeachment. Radical Republicans were somewhat confused, they had expected a 42- 12 vote, but six Republicans had quietly voted against impeachment, out of protest on how the trial of impeachment had been conducted.
President Johnson gave a farewell address on April 4th, 1868 giving a few last blows to the Republicans who took him down, and urged his allies to “fight special interests, and their protectors...” The President departed the White House with his wife later on an April 5th morning. Johnson and Mrs. Johnson would retire to their homes in Tennessee, retiring from public life forever. Republicans were jubilant, the man who had stood in the way of Radical Reconstruction was now gone. Southern Democrats were disgusted, as their only protector was now gone. President pro tempore of the Senate Benjamin Wade of Ohio was soon sworn into the Presidency. Wade was a radical Republican who wanted to pursue a more direct form of reconstruction in the South, and now had the opportunity to do so. But some Republicans were not satisfied with impeachment, some men wanted to reform the Government completely to ensure another “Johnson” would never bother them again.
“This affair has proven to me that we can no longer trust the Presidency in general! I demand the President call for a Convention to reform this cluttered mess we call a Government!” cried the leading Radical Republican in Congress, Thaddeus Stevens. Stevens however was not the only one in favor of reforming, many Republicans and some Democrats (who thought the current system was against them as well) called for reforming the Government completely.
President Wade was firmly on the side of the Radicals, and called for a Constitutional Convention to be held in New York City on April 30th, 1868. Delegates from all states (except Virginia, Texas, and South Carolina) argued tremendously for one staggering month between two plans. One plan was proposed by Governor Seymour of New York, The Seymour Proposal called for the abolition of the Executive branch, and Congress, and make the United States a loose Confederacy with a “Council of the States” making all Federal decisions. The plan was supported by Southerners and the Democratic Party.The other plan was proposed by Congressman Charles Sumner himself, which did call for the abolition of the executive branch, and called to make the House of Representatives the major governing body of the United States. The Supreme Court would stay on. The head of state would be called a “Prime Minister” which would be appointed by the Legislature.
The Sumner plan was supported by his fellow Republicans, which made the Stevens plan, triumph at the New York City Constitutional Convention of 1868. The Sumner proposal was ratified by most of the Republican- dominated States in the Union, with Democratic States such as Georgia and Alabama rejecting the plan.
The Sumner plan came into some trouble, most Americans were skeptical about the plan, as were many officials in the Military and in the former Lincoln cabinet who warned against weakening Executive power to much. President Wade went on a speaking tour to spark up support for the Government Reform Plan, and the tour worked, and most Americans supported the Sumner Project by the end of June.Indiana became the 26th state to ratify the new Constitution, and it became law on June 29th, 1868. The American Parliament was now in session.
Well, here it goes, be nice.
__________________________________________
1868, American Parliament
For three years after the tragic assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, The Republican dominated Congress and President Andrew Johnson of Tennessee had clashed on virtually all issues from Reconstruction to Amnesty to the defeated South. Johnson had wanted to clear all Radical Republicans out of his cabinet, and to do so, fired Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.
The House of Representatives, led by Radical Republicans, easily passed a resolution impeaching the President for his actions 127 to 46. Even though the trial had actually been very misleading and biased in favor of those favoring impeachment.
On March 26, 1868, President Andrew Johnson was impeached by the Senate of the United States from the presidency for violating the Tenure of Office Act by firing the secretary of War, Edwin Stanton. The vote had been 36- 18, just one away from the President being saved from impeachment. Radical Republicans were somewhat confused, they had expected a 42- 12 vote, but six Republicans had quietly voted against impeachment, out of protest on how the trial of impeachment had been conducted.
President Johnson gave a farewell address on April 4th, 1868 giving a few last blows to the Republicans who took him down, and urged his allies to “fight special interests, and their protectors...” The President departed the White House with his wife later on an April 5th morning. Johnson and Mrs. Johnson would retire to their homes in Tennessee, retiring from public life forever. Republicans were jubilant, the man who had stood in the way of Radical Reconstruction was now gone. Southern Democrats were disgusted, as their only protector was now gone. President pro tempore of the Senate Benjamin Wade of Ohio was soon sworn into the Presidency. Wade was a radical Republican who wanted to pursue a more direct form of reconstruction in the South, and now had the opportunity to do so. But some Republicans were not satisfied with impeachment, some men wanted to reform the Government completely to ensure another “Johnson” would never bother them again.
“This affair has proven to me that we can no longer trust the Presidency in general! I demand the President call for a Convention to reform this cluttered mess we call a Government!” cried the leading Radical Republican in Congress, Thaddeus Stevens. Stevens however was not the only one in favor of reforming, many Republicans and some Democrats (who thought the current system was against them as well) called for reforming the Government completely.
President Wade was firmly on the side of the Radicals, and called for a Constitutional Convention to be held in New York City on April 30th, 1868. Delegates from all states (except Virginia, Texas, and South Carolina) argued tremendously for one staggering month between two plans. One plan was proposed by Governor Seymour of New York, The Seymour Proposal called for the abolition of the Executive branch, and Congress, and make the United States a loose Confederacy with a “Council of the States” making all Federal decisions. The plan was supported by Southerners and the Democratic Party.The other plan was proposed by Congressman Charles Sumner himself, which did call for the abolition of the executive branch, and called to make the House of Representatives the major governing body of the United States. The Supreme Court would stay on. The head of state would be called a “Prime Minister” which would be appointed by the Legislature.
The Sumner plan was supported by his fellow Republicans, which made the Stevens plan, triumph at the New York City Constitutional Convention of 1868. The Sumner proposal was ratified by most of the Republican- dominated States in the Union, with Democratic States such as Georgia and Alabama rejecting the plan.
The Sumner plan came into some trouble, most Americans were skeptical about the plan, as were many officials in the Military and in the former Lincoln cabinet who warned against weakening Executive power to much. President Wade went on a speaking tour to spark up support for the Government Reform Plan, and the tour worked, and most Americans supported the Sumner Project by the end of June.Indiana became the 26th state to ratify the new Constitution, and it became law on June 29th, 1868. The American Parliament was now in session.