why did congressional leaders object to Andrew Johnson's policies?

Answer 1

The answer preceding mine captures one important piece of the conflict -- Johnson was arrogant and high-handed and had little respect for those who disagreed with him. In fact, his 1866 campaign AGAINST certain Radical Republicans (see below) revolted those who might have otherwise been more open to some of his approach.

But that's not the whole of the story. The problem also had to do with the specific POLICIES Johnson attempted to follow, esp in his approach to "Presidential Reconstruction" during 1865.

It has often been claimed that Johnson was all about a "soft peace" and reconciliation, much like what Lincoln was seeking, while the Radical Republicans simply wanted to PUNISH the South for its rebellion. This is, unfortunately, a very superficial answer (though popular with some Southerners, because it makes it possible to blame Reconstruction failures on the NORTH), and misses the real issue separating the two sides.

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While it's true "punishing" was at times AN important motive of the Radical Republicans, Johnson was himself happy with the notion of the Southern PLANTER (big plantation owners) being made to suffer. He had always envied them and their hold on Southern society, and he blamed them for secession and the disasters that followed.

But note that a key part of Johnson's vision was that he did NOT care much about what happened to the recently freed slaves. And it was THIS that brought him into such conflict with the Radical Republicans. Johnson attempted to FINISH Reconstruction quickly, and announced all was accomplished in December 1865, so that the Confederate states could be allowed to function as full, equal members of the Union.

But he IGNORED the fact that during the previous six months those states had begun to move to gain things they had supposedly LOST in the war. In particular, they passed "Black Codes" that forced "contracts" on the recently freed blacks, threatened them with easy arrest for "vagrancy", exacted harsher penalties... and in short sought to make them, in fact, if no longer in name, very much what they had been as slaves!!

The REACTION of the Radical Republicans was mostly about trying to PROTECT the RIGHTS of the newly freed blacks against such codes, then also the right to VOTE (the 14th amendment). The passed measures like the Freedmen's Bureau Bill and the Civil Rights Bill, both of which Johnson promptly vetoed.

The Radicals actually didn't have the power to overcome these vetoes UNTIL more moderate Republicans joined them in RESPONSE to Johnson's vicious, personal attacks against the Radicals, including Sumner and Stevens (including unbelievable tirades during the campaign of 1866) and the addition of more Republicans to Congress (in part BECAUSE of those tirades).

At any rate, what the Radicals were demanding was that the states NOT be fully admitted UNTIL they would supply stronger guarantees of the protections of blacks and their civil rights.

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Much of this (and much more!) can be seen from the articles posted at the web site "The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson". The site tells the story of the struggles betwween Johnson and Congress with over 200 excerpts from contemporary coverage of these events in Harper's Weekly (1865-69)

Here are what I think are the most useful pages in explaining the conflict described above.
http://www.impeach-andrewjohnson.com/05AJFirstVetoes/AJFirstVetoes.htm
http://www.impeach-andrewjohnson.com/02KeyPoliticalIssues/RadicalismConservatism.htm
http://www.impeach-andrewjohnson.com/02KeyPoliticalIssues/FutureControlOfCongress.htm

Answer 2

Andrew Johnson Policies

Answer 3

Andrew Johnson had a knack for angering people. Even those who wished to be his friend found themselves hating him. One of the problems facing Johnson were his own ambitions for retaining the presidency in 1868. In wooing allies Johnson fell into the trap of playing one faction against another and never quite getting anyone solidly behind him or his policies. What were Johnson's policies? Johnson's policies were inconsistent and lacked a clear vision for the future. This angered Congressional leaders who wanted firm decisions & a clear policy for dealing with the former rebels.

And one must also factor in the political ambitions of the Congressional Leaders. Concerned about their own political future they swiftly decided that Johnson was a losing cause and so their claws came out, they had no doubt that Johnson was a 'lame duck' with no chance of being elected in 1868 which they felt gave them an open pass to harrass Johnson on every issue.

Do yourself a favor and read Eric Foner's 'Reconstruction; America's Unfinnished Revolution - 1863 - 1877' for a better understanding of the odd complex personality of Johnson.

Peace............... o o o p p o o p p o o

Answer 4

There are 2 essential steps to correct this problem and 1 step that doesn't make a positive contribution. 1. Elect people to Congress and the Senate who pledge to really and truly eliminate the power of money from campaigning. So long as both parties need hundreds of millions to run campaigns, money talks. We walk. 2. Raise the level of political involvement by the citizenry. An informed and participating democracy that truly values the ideals of democracy would never get into this situation. What not to do is talk about "revolution." The Constitution was enacted and today should be cherished as the one thing that stands between the people and chaos. We just need to be better citizens here in the USA. Get informed. Get up off our sofas and work for a better Union, as the preamble says.