President Andrew Johnson Acquitted by One Vote: A Dramatic Close Call on May 26
May 26 is one of the most dramatic days in U.S. presidential history — it's the date in 1868 when the Senate voted on whether to remove President Andrew Johnson from office. He was saved by just one vote!
This was the climax of the first-ever impeachment trial of a U.S. president. The House of Representatives had charged President Johnson with "high crimes and misdemeanors," mostly because he fired his Secretary of War without Congress's approval. Many people were angry with him for how he was handling the South after the Civil War.
The Senate needed 36 votes (two-thirds) to convict and remove him. On May 26, the vote was 35 to convict and 19 to acquit. That meant he stayed in office by the narrowest possible margin — one single vote!
If you're learning about the Civil War, Reconstruction, or how the Constitution keeps the government balanced, this May 26 event is a thrilling "close call" story.
Who Was Andrew Johnson? Quick Bio for KidsAndrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States (1865–1869). He grew up very poor in Tennessee and never went to school — he taught himself to read while working as a tailor! He became a politician and was Abraham Lincoln’s vice president.
Johnson became president in a sad way — after President Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. His job was to help rebuild the country after the Civil War (a time called Reconstruction). He often argued with Congress about how to treat the South and protect the rights of newly freed people. These big fights led to his impeachment.
What Happened on May 26, 1868?
- The Senate held a long trial in the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
- Senators from all over the country came to vote.
- On May 26, they voted on the most serious charge against President Johnson.
- It was extremely close: 35 votes said “guilty,” 19 said “not guilty.”
- They were one vote short of removing him from office!
- Johnson finished his term, and the country stayed stable during a very hard time.
Fun Facts About Andrew Johnson and May 26 for Kids
- Andrew Johnson was the first president to be impeached (later Bill Clinton and Donald Trump were also impeached, but none were removed).
- He made his own clothes when he was young — he was a tailor!
- Tickets to watch the impeachment trial were very popular — people treated it like a big show.
- He was the only Southern senator who stayed loyal to the Union during the Civil War.
- The “one vote” that saved him is still one of the closest votes in Senate history.
What do you think? Would it be scary to be president during such a big argument with Congress? Or do you think it’s good that the rules protect everyone, even the president?
