Who was the Secretary of War dismissed by President Johnson, leading to calls for impeachment?

The correct response is Edwin M. Stanton. He served as the Secretary of War under President Abraham Lincoln and continued in this role under President Andrew Johnson. Johnson's dismissal of Stanton was a critical moment that fueled political tensions during the Reconstruction era. Stanton was a staunch supporter of Congressional Reconstruction policies, which Johnson opposed. When Johnson attempted to remove him from office without Congressional approval, it violated the Tenure of Office Act, which was designed to limit the power of the president to remove certain officeholders without the Senate's consent.

This act of dismissal prompted significant backlash and became one of the key catalysts for Johnson's impeachment. The House of Representatives charged him with violating the Tenure of Office Act, and this action underscored the intense conflict between the presidency and Congress during this period. Johnson's impeachment ultimately highlighted the struggle over Reconstruction policies and the evolving relationship between the federal government and states in the aftermath of the Civil War.