7.5 End of Reconstruction Notes

End of Reconstruction

Objectives

  • Explain why Reconstruction ended.

Factors Leading to the End of Reconstruction

  • Waning Northern Interest: By the mid-1870s, Northerners' interest in the conditions of freedmen in the South diminished.
    • There was a perception that Southerners would not re-enslave African Americans.
    • Less concern about the problems freedmen faced with white Democratic governments.
    • Northerners faced their own problems.
  • Withdrawal of Union Troops: Union troops were gradually pulled out of the South.
  • Amnesty Act of 1872: This act allowed many former Confederates to run for political office.
    • Many were elected by Conservative Democrats to state and local government positions.
  • Disengagement of African Americans: Most African Americans chose not to participate in politics or vote due to the high risk of violence and death.

Election of 1876

  • Watershed Year: The election of 1876 marked a critical turning point in the Reconstruction era.
  • Republican Struggles: The Republican Party faced challenges due to President Grant's image.
    • Grant was a celebrated war hero but considered a less effective president.
    • His administration was marred by scandals and corruption.
    • Despite Grant's reelection in 1872 with an 800,000 vote lead over Democrat Horace Greeley, the Republican Party's strength declined in both the North and the South.
  • State Control: By 1876, Republicans controlled only Louisiana, Florida, and South Carolina.
    • These states reverted to Democratic control after the election.
  • Candidates:
    • Democrat: Samuel J. Tilden, Governor of New York.
    • Republican: Rutherford B. Hayes, Governor of Ohio.

Campaign and Election Results

  • Hayes's Beliefs: Hayes advocated for the federal government to end its support of southern state governments.
  • Campaign Tone: The campaign was characterized by mudslinging and accusations from both sides.
  • Popular Vote: Tilden won the popular vote by 250,000 votes.
  • Electoral Vote: Initial count showed Tilden with 203 electoral votes against Hayes's 165.

Disputed Election and Resolution

  • Republican Strategy: Republican officials aimed to secure the three Republican-held southern states (Louisiana, Florida, and South Carolina) for Hayes.
    • By discarding enough Democratic ballots, they could achieve a victory of 185 electoral votes to Tilden's 184.
  • Conflicting Results: Democrats submitted alternative results for each of the three states, indicating Tilden as the winner.
  • Electoral Count Uncertainty: The official counting of electoral votes was uncertain due to partisan divisions.
    • Republicans held a majority in the Senate, while Democrats controlled the House of Representatives.
  • Congressional Committee: Congress formed a committee consisting of five Democrats, five Republicans, and five Supreme Court justices to conduct an investigation.
    • Despite the intention of nonpartisanship, the justices leaned Republican (3) and Democratic (2).
  • Investigation: The committee reviewed evidence from both sides, revealing irregularities.
    • Democrats had more votes overall but had suppressed African American voters, who likely would have supported Hayes.
  • Committee Vote: The commission voted 8-7 along party lines on each of the three contested states.
  • Compromise of 1877: To avert a potential civil war, party leaders reached a compromise.
    • Hayes was awarded the presidency.
    • In return, Hayes agreed to:
      • Remove the remaining Union troops from the Southern states.
      • Appoint a conservative Southerner to his cabinet.
      • Support the construction of a railroad from Southern Texas to California.
    • Democrats pledged to guarantee the rights of African Americans in the South and prevent voter suppression.

Aftermath and Impact on African Americans

  • Hayes's Inauguration: Hayes was peacefully inaugurated as president on March 4, 1877.
  • End of Federal Protection: The withdrawal of Union troops marked the end of federal protection for African Americans' civil rights in the South.
  • Segregation Era: This ushered in a long period of segregation for African Americans in the South.
    • Jim Crow laws were enacted, legalizing segregation.
    • The Supreme Court upheld these laws in Plessy v. Ferguson.
  • Limited Options: African Americans had limited recourse and had to endure extremely difficult conditions.
  • Loss of Civil Rights Advances: All the civil rights progress made between 1867 and 1877 was effectively nullified.
  • Ku Klux Klan: The Ku Klux Klan demonstrated the futility of fighting for these rights.
  • Migration: Some African Americans left the South in search of better opportunities, but most remained trapped.
  • Civil Rights Movement: Conditions did not begin to improve until the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Reaction to the Compromise

  • Democratic Outrage: Democrats were initially outraged by the Electoral Commission's findings and the compromise.
  • Tilden's Role: Samuel Tilden played a crucial role in calming down his party to ensure a smooth inauguration.
  • Secret Inauguration: To avoid any issues, President Hayes was secretly sworn into office in the Red Room of the White House the evening before the public ceremony.
  • Acceptance of Defeat Democrats conceded their claims to the presidency due to their reluctance to ignite another civil war, acknowledging that a compromise was the most favorable resolution for all those involved.

Review

  • The candidates in the 1876 election were Samuel Tilden and Rutherford Hayes.