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The Civil War to 1910: The Golden Age of Parties

105 min
  • Students will examine the major events that shaped the methods and acts of Congress as they responded to a rapidly-changing political and economic landscape.
  • Students will take an in-depth look at the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, and analyze Congress’s power of impeachment.
  • Students will analyze the separation of powers among the three branches, and understand how that balance is maintained in the Constitution.

  • Students will examine the major events that shaped the methods and acts of Congress as they responded to a rapidly-changing political and economic landscape.
  • Students will take an in-depth look at the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, and analyze Congress’s power of impeachment.
  • Students will analyze the separation of powers among the three branches, and understand how that balance is maintained in the Constitution.

  • Speaker of the House
  • Political party
  • Caucus
  • Disappearing quorum
  • Thomas B. Reed
  • Joseph Cannon
  • Standing Committee
  • Stalwarts/Radical Republicans
  • Insurgents
  • Select Committee
  • Rules Committee
  • Ways and Means Committee
  • Appropriations Committee
  • Tenure of Office Act
  • Impeachment
  • “Pork-barrel”
  • Whip
  • Imperialism

  1. Distribute and assign for homework Handout A: Background Essay: The Golden Age of Parties—The Civil War to 1910
  2. Lead the class in a discussion of the groups that contended for power during Reconstruction and the Gilded Age. Have the students identify and describe issues that were important to the people of the time.

  1. As a class, read the introduction on Handout B: The Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson
  2. As a class, read and discuss the introduction to Handout B. Ensure students have a general understanding of the circumstances surrounding the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson.
  3. Break students into groups of three to five and have them read Handout C: Excerpts from the Articles of Impeachment for President Andrew Johnson and answer the critical thinking questions.

  1. Lead the class in a discussion about the impeachment of President Johnson. Possible discussion questions are listed below.
    1. How is the power of impeachment intended to help to maintain the balance of power between the branches? To what extent is impeachment successful in that goal?
    2. Johnson’s impeachment is often characterized as merely political, and not reflective of constitutional principles. After reading the articles of impeachment, to what extent do you believe this to be so? Explain.
    3. What are the dangers of a political impeachment?
    4. Today, the power of the executive branch has grown immensely. To what extent has this increase in executive power had an effect on the importance of the power of impeachment? Explain.
    5. The Senate conducts the trial in impeachment proceedings, yet they are also charged with being the president’s counsel. To what extent do you believe this is a possible conflict of interest? Explain.
  2. Lead the students to an understanding of how their choices compared and contrasted to the real historical strategies of the individuals involved.
  3. Postscript: Explain that, though the trial was primarily about the Tenure of Office Act, Johnson’s detractors also said that he represented the return of “Slave Power” to the United States because of his preference for leniency to the South. At the end of the impeachment trial, thirty-five senators voted to convict Johnson, only one vote short of the two-thirds majority necessary to remove him from office. Johnson served the remaining 10 months of his term, continuing to veto bills that he believed were unconstitutional. Congress continued to override his vetoes. However, he did enforce the laws when passed. The Tenure of Office Act was largely repealed in 1887, and its principles were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1926 in Myers v. United States.

Student Handouts

Handout A: The Golden Ages of Parties – The Civil War to 1910

Handout B: The Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson

Handout C: Excerpts from the Articles of Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

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