Compromise of 1877

Definition

The Compromise of 1877 was an informal agreement that settled the disputed 1876 presidential election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden. This compromise effectively ended the Reconstruction era by allowing Hayes to assume the presidency in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, which subsequently led to the restoration of white Democratic control in southern states. This shift had significant implications for American federalism and race relations.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Compromise of 1877 was reached after a highly contested election where both parties claimed victory, leading to a political crisis.
2. In exchange for Hayes's presidency, Republicans agreed to withdraw federal troops from Louisiana and South Carolina, effectively ending Reconstruction.
3. The compromise marked a significant shift in power back to Southern Democrats, leading to the establishment of white supremacy in the South through various means.
4. The agreement paved the way for decades of disenfranchisement and segregation under Jim Crow laws, impacting African Americans' civil rights.
5. The Compromise of 1877 is often viewed as a turning point in American history that set back the progress made during Reconstruction.

Review Questions

• How did the Compromise of 1877 influence the political landscape in the United States following the Reconstruction era?
  • The Compromise of 1877 significantly altered the political landscape by allowing Rutherford B. Hayes to become president while effectively ending federal oversight in Southern states. This withdrawal marked a retreat from Reconstruction policies, enabling Southern Democrats to regain control and implement laws that enforced racial segregation and disenfranchised African Americans. The result was a consolidation of power among white Southerners, leading to systemic racism that persisted for decades.
• Analyze how the Compromise of 1877 contributed to the establishment of Jim Crow laws in the South.
  • The Compromise of 1877 facilitated the return of Democratic control in Southern states by removing federal troops that had protected African Americans' rights during Reconstruction. With this power shift, Southern Democrats quickly enacted Jim Crow laws that institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination. These laws emerged as a direct response to reclaiming political dominance, demonstrating how federal withdrawal allowed for oppressive practices that limited civil rights for African Americans.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the Compromise of 1877 on American federalism and race relations into the 20th century.
  • The long-term effects of the Compromise of 1877 were profound, as it not only signaled an end to Reconstruction but also solidified a pattern of states’ rights that allowed Southern states to implement discriminatory policies without federal intervention. This compromise contributed to decades of systemic racism and civil rights violations against African Americans, fostering a deeply entrenched societal divide that would take generations to address. The compromise illustrates how decisions at the federal level can dramatically influence state governance and civil rights protections.

Related terms

Reconstruction: The period following the Civil War when the United States attempted to address the inequities of slavery and its political, social, and economic legacy, lasting from 1865 to 1877.

Jim Crow Laws: State and local laws enacted in the Southern United States that enforced racial segregation and disenfranchised African Americans after the end of Reconstruction.

States' Rights: The political principle that individual states have the authority to govern themselves and make their own laws without federal interference, often invoked in the context of Southern resistance to federal policies during Reconstruction.