" When Andrew Johnson took upon himself the duties of his high office he swore to obey the Constitution and take care that the laws be faithfully executed. That, indeed, is and has always been the chief duty of the president of the United States. The duties of legislation and adjudicating [making a judgment on] the laws of his country fall in no way to his lot. To obey the commands of sovereign power of the nation, and to see that others should obey them, was his whole duty- a duty which he could not escape, and any attempt to so would be direct violation of his official oath..."

Question

" When Andrew Johnson took upon himself the duties of his high office he swore to obey the Constitution and take care that the laws be faithfully executed. That, indeed, is and has always been the chief duty of the president of the United States. The duties of legislation and adjudicating [making a judgment on] the laws of his country fall in no way to his lot. To obey the commands of sovereign power of the nation, and to see that others should obey them, was his whole duty- a duty which he could not escape, and any attempt to so would be direct violation of his official oath..."

-Thaddeus Stevens, Closing Remarks in the Impeachment Trial of Andrew Johnson, 1868

9. Use the quotation to answer the following question:
According to the quotation, why does Stevens believe that Johnson should be removed from office?

Answer 1

Stevens believes that Johnson should be removed from office because he is violating his official oath to obey the Constitution and ensure that the laws are faithfully executed. Stevens argues that this is the chief duty of the president and any attempt to escape this duty would be a direct violation of his official oath.

Answer 2

4. Which of the following is a major example of Abraham Lincoln's policy of leniency toward the defected south?

A. President Lincoln's Willingness to have the federal government assume responsibility of the Confederate government's war debts.
B. President Lincoln's Choice to have a Southerner as his vice president in the 1864 election.
C. President Lincoln's decision that the southern state governments could reorganize after 10 percent of the voters took a loyalty oath to the union.
D. President Lincoln's Decision to extend the Emancipation Proclamation to include all states.

Answer 3

C. President Lincoln's decision that the southern state governments could reorganize after 10 percent of the voters took a loyalty oath to the union, is a major example of his policy of leniency toward the defected south. This was known as the Ten Percent Plan.

Answer 4

According to the quotation, Thaddeus Stevens believes that Andrew Johnson should be removed from office because he believes Johnson violated his official oath by attempting to escape his duty of obeying and enforcing the commands of the sovereign power of the nation and ensuring that others also followed the laws.

Answer 5

According to the quotation, Thaddeus Stevens believes that Andrew Johnson should be removed from office because Johnson had violated his official oath by not faithfully executing the laws and obeying the commands of sovereign power of the nation. Stevens argues that the chief duty of the president is to obey the Constitution and ensure that the laws are faithfully executed, and any attempt by Johnson to escape this duty would constitute a direct violation of his oath.