The Electoral Commission: A bipartisan group created by Congress to settle the disputed election results.
Southern Democrats: They supported Tilden and made concessions in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from the South.
What:
Contested Election of 1876: The Presidential election between Tilden and Hayes was extremely close. Several states, particularly in the South, had conflicting election results, leading to disputes over who won.
The Electoral Commission: Congress created this commission to settle the election dispute. It was made up of five Representatives, five Senators, and five Supreme Court justices.
Bargaining and Compromise: Southern Democrats ultimately agreed to support Hayes’ election in exchange for a number of concessions from Republicans, including the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, federal funding for Southern infrastructure, and the appointment of a Southerner to Hayes’ cabinet.
Impact:
End of Reconstruction: The Compromise of 1877 effectively ended Reconstruction in the South. Federal protection of African American civil rights ceased, and white Southerners were able to regain political and economic power.
Rise of Jim Crow: With the end of Reconstruction, Southern states passed “Jim Crow” laws that severely limited African American rights and segregated society.
Economic Development in the South: The Compromise led to federal support for Southern infrastructure, which helped to boost the region’s economy.
Shift in Political Power: The compromise helped to solidify the Republican Party’s control over the national government, but it also alienated African Americans and gave the South more political autonomy.