The Election of 1876 — Reading Comprehension

The Election of 1876 was one of the most disputed presidential elections in American history. It took place just over a decade after the Civil War, during the period known as Reconstruction. This era was marked by efforts to reunite the nation and ensure rights for formerly enslaved people. However, political divisions ran deep, and the country was struggling to heal.

The two main candidates were Rutherford B. Hayes, the Republican governor of Ohio, and Samuel J. Tilden, the Democratic governor of New York. Tilden won the popular vote, but 20 electoral votes from Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Oregon were contested. Both parties claimed victory in these states, and accusations of fraud and intimidation were widespread. This led to a national crisis, as the outcome would decide the next president.

To resolve the dispute, Congress formed a special group called the Electoral Commission. The commission included members from both parties and the Supreme Court. After heated debates, the commission voted 8-7 in favor of Hayes, giving him the presidency by just one electoral vote. Some historians believe the decision was influenced by a backroom compromise between Republican and Democratic leaders.

The so-called "Compromise of 1877" was unofficial but crucial. Southern Democrats agreed not to block Hayes’s inauguration. In exchange, federal troops were withdrawn from the South, which ended Reconstruction. This decision had major consequences. Without federal protection, many Southern states quickly passed laws that limited the rights of African Americans. This period marked the beginning of the "Jim Crow" era, which enforced racial segregation for decades.

Different groups experienced the aftermath of the election in different ways. Southern white leaders regained political control and reversed many policies that protected African American rights. African Americans faced new obstacles to voting and equality. Meanwhile, many Northerners were eager to move past the conflicts of the Civil War, even if it meant ignoring injustice in the South. Hayes himself believed in national unity, but his efforts to protect rights in the South were limited.

One letter from President Hayes reflects his complicated feelings: "He serves his party best who serves his country best." This quote shows how Hayes tried to balance party loyalty with the needs of the nation. Still, historians debate whether the compromise was the only solution, or if it betrayed the promises of Reconstruction.

The Election of 1876 demonstrates how political conflicts can shape the course of history. It reminds us that solutions to national problems often come with difficult trade-offs, and that the voices of some groups may be ignored in the process.

Interesting Fact: The Election of 1876 is one of only a few U.S. elections in which a candidate won the presidency without winning the popular vote.

Who were the main candidates in 1876?

What ended as a result of the Compromise of 1877?

Which states had disputed electoral votes?

Why was the Electoral Commission created?

What was a result for African Americans?

What does the quote from Hayes show?

Hayes won the popular vote. True or false?

What is a compromise?