Study Notes on the Election of 1876, Reconstruction, and Native American History

Election of 1876 and Its Aftermath

  • Discussion on the election of 1876, with a focus on the compromise that resolved the electoral dispute.

Ulysses S. Grant’s Presidency

  • General Grant, known for his military leadership.

  • Critique of Grant as ineffective as a president due to substantial corruption in his administration.

  • Consequence: Significant loss of support for the Republican Party.

Election Details

  • Description of the election as closer than previous ones.

  • Democratic candidate Samuel J. Tilden:

    • Focused on corruption in Grant's presidency.

    • Criticized Republican control of reconstruction, referring to it as "despotism."

    • Definition of despotism: Leadership by a dictator or a single authority; a government dominated by one party.

  • Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes, governor of Ohio.

  • Overview of the election results:

    • Tilden won the popular vote.

    • Tilden fell one electoral vote short of victory.

    • Tilden needed two-thirds of the electoral college votes to win, but did not achieve it.

    • Electoral votes in Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina were disputed, with both parties claiming victory.

    • Lack of recount technology contributed to confusion.

  • Tilden required one vote from the three disputed states for a win; Hayes needed all 19 electoral votes from them.

Congressional Decision and Compromise of 1877

  • Congress responsible for deciding election outcomes due to constitutional ambiguity.

  • Behind-the-scenes negotiations led to the Compromise of 1877:

    • Southern Democrats agreed to accept Hayes as president in exchange for federal subsidies for Southern states and withdrawal of federal troops from the South.

    • The compromise marked the end of Reconstruction.

  • Discussion of political party shifts:

    • Transition of Democratic Party towards a more progressive stance occurred from the time of Theodore Roosevelt to Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency.

  • Understanding of legal mechanisms in Congress during contentious elections.

Impact on Native Americans

  • Transition to discussing Native Americans and US policies including systemic oppression.

US Expansion and Native Americans

  • Overview of US expansion from 1865-1900 and its impact on Native populations.

  • Key concepts of Indian removal policies that forcibly relocated tribes.

  • Historical context: Native Americans occupied much of the land before Euro-American settlers arrived.

Policies of Indian Removal

  • The US government’s approach aimed at relocating tribes west of the Mississippi, promising permanence.

  • Promises broken by the government regarding land encroachment.

  • Specific examples of policies and events leading to the Reservation System.

Treaty of Fort Laramie

  • Plains Native Americans signed this treaty, ceding land to secure passage for settlers in exchange for promises of sovereignty over remaining territories.

  • The government broke its promises, leading to significant ecological and cultural destruction:

    • Impact of settler activities: Deforestation, pollution, bison extinction, and introduction of harmful substances (alcohol, disease).

The Decline of the Bison Population

  • Destroying bison populations as rightfully linked to Native American livelihood (food, material, fuel).

  • Statistics: Decline from 40 million bison to 1,000 by 1895 due to hunting and ecological disturbance brought by US expansion.

Indigenous Resistance and Military Conflicts

  • Discussion of native tribes’ struggles:

    • Lakota Sioux migrations and subsequent conflicts with settlers.

    • Long Walk of the Navajo and its harsh consequences.

  • Sand Creek Massacre (1864): Brutal incident illustrating how non-combatants were targeted.

    • Colonel John M. Chivington’s actions against a peaceful Cheyenne village led to condemnation but also local heroism surrounding the massacre.

Consequences of Government Policies

  • Experiences of Native Americans on reservations marked by poverty, starvation, and dependency on federal handouts.

  • Cultural erasure under the guise of "civilization" and assimilation policies.

Cultural Identity and Personal Reflections

  • Personal anecdotes from the instructor reflecting on identity and cultural heritage.

  • Emphasis on the importance of cultural preservation amidst external pressures.

Additional Native American Conflicts and Treaty Violations

  • Resistance movements, such as the Great Sioux Uprising, and their implications.

  • Mention of ongoing mistreatment and systematic issues affecting Indigenous nations.

Endnote on Indigenous History in America

  • Emphasis on continued dialogue necessary to understand the historical context of Native American struggles and the implications for modern society.