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Compromise of 1877

Definition

The Compromise of 1877 was an unwritten deal that settled the intensely disputed 1876 U.S. presidential election. It resulted in Republican Rutherford B. Hayes being awarded the presidency in exchange for removing federal troops from Southern states, effectively ending Reconstruction.

Analogy

Think of this as a trade-off at a school lunch table. One kid (Hayes) gets the last pudding cup (the presidency), but only if he agrees to stop enforcing a rule that his friend has to eat his vegetables (removing federal troops from South).

Historical Context

The Compromise of 1877 was a political agreement that resolved the intensely disputed 1876 U.S. presidential election. The country was still grappling with post-Civil War reconstruction, and the election between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel J. Tilden ended with contested results in several states. Key figures included Hayes, Tilden, and members of Congress who formed an informal Electoral Commission to navigate the impasse.

Historical Significance

The Freeport Doctrine significantly impacted the Democratic Party, contributing to its split and weakening prior to the 1860 presidential election. It attempted to allow territories to exclude slavery despite the Supreme Court's ruling, thus alienating Southern Democrats. This doctrine played a role in framing the political discourse around states' rights and slavery, setting the stage for the Civil War.

Related terms

Rutherford B. Hayes: The 19th President of the United States who took office after winning through the Compromise of 1877.

Reconstruction Era: As mentioned earlier, this is period following Civil War when attempts were made to redress inequities of slavery and its political, social, and economic legacy.

Jim Crow Laws: State and local laws enforcing racial segregation in Southern states after end of Reconstruction.