Why did conflict erupt between president johnson and congress after lincoln's assassination
1. Reconstruction policies: President Johnson favored a more lenient approach to Reconstruction, allowing Southern states back into the Union with minimal conditions. Congress, on the other hand, wanted a more stringent Reconstruction policy that would ensure the rights of newly-freed slaves and punish Southern leaders who had supported the Confederacy.
2. Veto of Civil Rights legislation: President Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which aimed to protect the civil rights of freed slaves. This clashed with Congress's support for the legislation, leading to tensions between the two branches of government.
3. Removal of Stanton: President Johnson attempted to remove Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War who was a staunch supporter of Congress's Reconstruction policies. Congress responded by passing the Tenure of Office Act, which prohibited the president from removing certain officials without the Senate's approval. When Johnson violated this law by removing Stanton, it led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives.
4. Political disagreements: President Johnson was a Democrat from the South, while Congress was controlled by Republicans who were generally more aligned with the Radical Republicans' views on Reconstruction. This ideological divide contributed to the conflict between the president and Congress.