The presidential contest of 1876, a significant event in American history frequently studied in Advanced Placement United States History courses, involved Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel Tilden. The outcome of this election was fiercely disputed due to widespread allegations of voter fraud and irregularities in several states, particularly Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina.
This election holds considerable importance as it marked the effective end of Reconstruction. The contested results led to a political crisis and ultimately, the Compromise of 1877. In exchange for the Democratic Party’s acceptance of Hayes as president, federal troops were withdrawn from the South, effectively abandoning efforts to protect the rights of African Americans in the region and signaling a return to white Democratic control.
