Presidents from 1877-93: Hayes (1877-81) Election Victory and Civil Service Reform Attempts Flashcards
What political party was Hayes under?
Republican
What was the issue when the election was over?
The Republicans announced that they had won, but so did the Democrats
Which 3 states were uncertain on which candidate to vote for in the 1876 election?
Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana
What suppression of votes did not help to make the 1876 election victory be more certain?
The KKK’s suppression of African Americans voting in the election
What did Grant do to attempt to find who was the winner in the 3 uncertain states?
Sent troops to try and find the correct results
Did Hayes win the 1876 election?
Yes
How many votes in the electoral college did Hayes win by?
1
Due to this narrow victory and the Democrats being displeased, what did the Government create?
The Compromise of 1877
What did the Compromise of 1877 say?
Hayes could be President but only if Reconstruction ended in The South and troops were taken out of Southern states
What did Hayes do with the Compromise of 1877?
He accepted it and became President
What ended when the Compromise of 1877 came into place?
Reconstruction
What statistic can be shown with jail inhabitants in Southern prisons in the late 1870s showing a shift away from Reconstruction?
Prisons went from being 90% white to 80% black inmates
What section of the vote did the Democrats win over Hayes?
The popular vote
Why was Hayes able to win the election even though he lost the popular vote? How did the other voting system he won with work?
The Electoral College of each state also gave determining votes, and the number of votes each state could have depended on their population.
What did Hayes promise to do with his season?
Only serve for one season
What was Hayes called for only sitting for one season?
A ‘lame-duck’ President
What was a limitation of Hayes confirming he would only sit for one season?
It meant that not much could be done to fight against corruption
Who was the Democrat candidate in the 1876 Election and what were his political views?
Tilden
What was the main focus of Tildens campaign?
To end Reconstruction and a Union Army presence in the Southern States
What section of the voting in the election did Tilden win?
The popular vote
What commission would help to find the results of the 1876 election?
Special Electoral Commission
What did the Special Electoral Commission consist of?
7 Republicans, 7 Democrats, 1 Independent
What did the Independent do during the vote investigation? Who were they replaced by?
The Independent resigned and was replaced by a Republican
What did it mean when the Independent was replaced by a Republican?
It meant that it was an 8 to 7 in favour of the Republicans so Hayes won
Which Amendments in The South stopped being implemented after 1877?
14th and 15th Amendment
What was the ‘Solid South’? How long did it last?
The political dominance that the Democrats had over the Southern states of the USA from the 1870s to the 1960s
How did Reconstruction attempts get undermined in the South?
African Americans were criminalised and terrorised by the KKK if they attempted to vote
How did Reconstruction attempts get undermined in the South in terms of with trying to re-implement slavery?
African-American labourers of land were slowly put closer with their landowners
What was the ‘party caucus’? Why would they do this?
The event where the Democrat candidate is picked before the election in order to reduce the ability of any anti-segregation movements rising up with political power in this time like the Redeemers
What is the National Nominating Convention?
A Convention which takes place during the election years where the two parties decide on their candidates and policies they will include in their manifesto
Which two problems did Hayes suffer with in his Presidency?
Civil Service Reform and the Railroad Strike of 1877
Which part of the Civil Service did Hayes try and reform?
The Spoils System
What would Hayes implement instead of the Spoils system?
A system where people who were actually skilled in certain professions would get the correct jobs
What was the impact of Hayes attempting to reform the Civil Service? Who did he especially come in to opposition with?
Many politicians opposed Civil Service Reform, especially New York Custom House leader Roscoe Conkling
Which two factions formed on the basis of what could be done to the Civil Service?
Stalwarts and Mugwumps
Who led the Stalwarts and what did they want?
Stalwarts were led by Roscoe Conkling and wanted there to be no change to the structure of the Civil Service
Why did Roscoe Conkling, especially, oppose Civil Service reform? Why?
He would be less able to use immigrants as an advantage to win more elections as he would no longer be able to give them rewards in the form of jobs
What is another term used meaning the same thing as the ‘Spoils System’?
Patronage
Did any Civil Service Reform occur during Hayes’ Presidency?
No
What did Mugwumps want?
Mugwumps wanted there to be Civil Service Reform
Who came as President after Hayes?
Garfield
