Overview
This lecture explains the Compromise of 1877, which ended Reconstruction, resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election, and led to the loss of rights for African Americans in the South.
Context of the Election of 1876
- Reconstruction was ongoing in the South, with Union troops occupying several states.
- African Americans exercised new rights under the 14th and 15th Amendments amid violence and opposition.
- The presidential candidates were Democrat Samuel Tilden (NY, limited federal government) and Republican Rutherford B. Hayes (OH, pro-business).
Electoral Crisis and the Compromise
- The election was extremely close; three Southern states (Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina) had disputed results with 20 electoral votes at stake.
- Tilden had 184 electoral votes, Hayes 165; 185 needed to win.
- An electoral commission with a Republican majority decided the outcome.
- The Compromise of 1877 gave all three disputed states' electoral votes to Hayes, making him president.
Terms of the Compromise and Its Impact
- Union troops were immediately withdrawn from the South, ending Reconstruction.
- African Americans lost federal protection of their civil rights, enabling Jim Crow laws.
- The federal government stopped enforcing the 14th Amendment (equal protection) and 15th Amendment (voting rights for African Americans).
- Democrats received a Southern cabinet member (postmaster general) and promises of Southern industrial support (e.g., railroad), though not all promises were fulfilled.
Consequences and Significance
- The Compromise of 1877 is called the "Great Betrayal" for abandoning African American rights.
- Reconstruction ended, starting decades of segregation and disenfranchisement for African Americans.
- The popular vote did not determine the winner; Tilden won more votes, but Hayes won the presidency through the electoral college.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Compromise of 1877 — An informal deal resolving the 1876 election, ending Reconstruction, and withdrawing federal troops from the South.
- Reconstruction — The period after the Civil War when Southern states were rebuilt and reintegrated, and African Americans gained civil rights.
- Jim Crow Laws — State and local laws enforcing racial segregation and disenfranchising African Americans after Reconstruction.
- 14th Amendment — Constitutional amendment granting citizenship and equal protection under the law.
- 15th Amendment — Constitutional amendment prohibiting denial of voting rights based on race.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the mechanics and impact of the electoral college.
- Study the 14th and 15th Amendments and their enforcement during Reconstruction.
- Prepare for questions on the causes and consequences of the Compromise of 1877.