Election Of 1876

Question 1

Hayes’s Accomplishments

Answer 1

1. Selected a top flight cabinet
2. Withdrew federal troops from Louisiana and South Carolina, as promised in the Compromise of 1877, ending Republican control over the south, ending reconstruction, but bringing up problems over race and voting.
3. Took steps to promote Civil Service Reform by selecting the best people for the job, regardless of their party.
4. Approved appropriations for internal improvements in the south, angering northern republicans.
5. Ultimately ended the Reconstruction period.

Question 2

Problems for Hayes

Answer 2

1. Labor disputes caused violence to erupt in a number of eastern cities due to large industry.
2. Rail Road strike of 1877 forced Hayes to call out the troops to keep order in Baltimore and Pittsburgh, angering the people.
3. Pro-silver congressmen began to push for unlimited coinage of silver due to an upshot in production in western silver mines, which would force coins to lose their value, pushing inflation.

Question 3

Compromise of 1877

Answer 3

This was the deal struck between the Democrats and Republicans after the Election of 1876 where Hayes “took” the election from Tilden. In this compromise, the Democrats said to remove the troops in the south and they would not contest the election.

Question 4

Election of 1876

Answer 4

Candidates were Samuel Tilden(Democrat) and Rutherford B. Hayes(Republican). Hayes beat out Grant and James Blaine for the nomination as they were both involved in scandals.
Both Tilden and Hayes were honorable men, so there was nothing to dig up on each other.
The major issues were 1. Hard money; 2. Withdrawing federal troops from the south; and 3. Civil service reform.
The Democrats attacked the Republicans with “Grantism”; the Depression of 1873; and Corruption in the South during reconstruction.
The Republicans attacked the Democrats for “Copperheadism”(anti-war); proslavery; and a plan to pay off the Confederate debt.
On November 7, 1876, it appeared that Tilden had won the election. He had 4.2 million votes to Hayes’ 4 million. However, Tilden only had 184 electoral votes, while 185 was needed. Hayes only had 165. There were 20 votes in doubt from South Carolina(7), Louisiana(8), Florida(4), and Oregon(Oregon already gave 2 of their 3 votes to Hayes). Tilden only needed 1 while Hayes needed all 20. Both parties sent “visiting statesmen” to the southern states to look into the situation. Oregon’s one disputed vote went to Hayes because he won the state. The struggle lasted from November 8 to March 2, 1877. During this time, there was bribery, forgery, violence, intimidation, and ballot stuffing on both sides. All 3 southern states and Oregon sent in 2 sets of returns for electoral votes. Because of this, the election was to be decided by the House of Representatives, and the Republicans controlled the House. In this, Congress created the Electoral Count Act that was a panel of 15 men with 5 senators, 5 Congressmen, and 5 Supreme Court Justices. There were 7 democrats, 7 republicans, and 1 independent that would swing either way. During this, Justice Davis, the Independent, stepped down and was replaced by a republican. Now, the Republicans outnumbered the Democrats. Because of this, Hayes was awarded all 20 electoral votes and won the election. The Democrats were mad and thought the election was taken from them. They started to claim fraud against Hayes and the Republicans. The Democrats threatened to contest the election, but decided to make a deal with Hayes and the Republicans instead. This agreement was called the Compromise of 1877.