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Impeach

Definition

Impeach refers to the process of accusing and removing a public official from office for committing "high crimes and misdemeanors." In the context of President Andrew Johnson, he was impeached by the Radical Republicans due to his opposition to their Reconstruction policies.

Analogy

Imagine you have a group project at school, and one member consistently goes against the plans and goals set by the rest of the team. Eventually, the group decides to vote and remove that person from the project. This is similar to how President Andrew Johnson was impeached by the Radical Republicans for going against their Reconstruction plans.

Related terms

Radical Republicans: A faction within the Republican Party during Reconstruction that advocated for more aggressive policies towards ensuring civil rights for freed slaves.

Reconstruction: The period following the Civil War in which efforts were made to rebuild and reintegrate Southern states back into the Union while addressing issues such as slavery, civil rights, and political power.

High Crimes and Misdemeanors: Refers to serious offenses committed by public officials that can lead to impeachment. These offenses are not limited strictly to criminal acts but encompass abuse of power or betrayal of public trust.