The American Presidential Election of 1876

Summary

The 1876 U.S. Presidential Election was one of the most controversial in American history. Rutherford Hayes, the Republican candidate, narrowly defeated Samuel Tilden, the Democratic nominee, despite Tilden winning the popular vote by over 250,000 votes. The election was marred by disputes over electoral votes in four states, leading to the creation of an Electoral Commission. A compromise, known as the Compromise of 1877, resulted in Hayes becoming president while agreeing to withdraw federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction. The election raised significant questions about the Electoral College and the fairness of the system.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ulysses Grant considered running for a third term but ultimately decided against it due to corruption accusations and the economic downturn of the Panic of 1873.
• 😀 Rutherford Hayes was selected as the Republican candidate after a contentious primary, and he was known for his Civil War hero status and reformist views.
• 😀 The Democrats nominated Samuel Tilden, who was known as a Bourbon Democrat and supported free trade and the gold standard.
• 😀 The Greenback Party, advocating for inflation through paper money, entered the race with Peter Cooper as their presidential candidate.
• 😀 The election marked the first time Colorado participated as a state, though its electors were controversially chosen by the Republican-controlled legislature.
• 😀 The election was marred by accusations of voter intimidation, bribery, and fraud from both parties, leading to a disputed result.
• 😀 A special electoral commission was created to resolve the election dispute, consisting of five representatives, five senators, and five Supreme Court Justices.
• 😀 The commission's final decision, which went in favor of Hayes, was influenced by a tie-breaking vote from Justice Joseph Bradley, who sided with the Republicans.
• 😀 Rutherford Hayes won the presidency with 185 electoral votes, while Tilden had 184, and Tilden also won the popular vote by more than 250,000 votes.
• 😀 The 1876 election is the only one where a candidate who received more than 50% of the popular vote, Tilden, did not win the presidency, leading to widespread calls for Electoral College reform.

Q & A

Why did President Ulysses Grant ultimately decide not to run for a third term in 1876?

President Ulysses Grant decided against running for a third term due to his administration being accused of corruption, multiple scandals, and the poor state of the economy during the Panic of 1873, which was the Great Depression of that time.

Who was Rutherford Hayes and why did he become the Republican nominee in 1876?

Rutherford Hayes was the Governor of Ohio and a Civil War hero, known for his reformist stance. He became the Republican nominee after James Blaine, the early favorite, was deemed unelectable. Hayes was selected due to his reputation and leadership qualities.

What was the political ideology of Samuel Tilden and his supporters?

Samuel Tilden was a Bourbon Democrat, which meant he supported classical liberal principles such as free trade and the gold standard. His stance also included opposition to imperialism, making him a progressive figure in the Democratic Party of that era.

What was the Greenback Party's stance during the 1876 election?

The Greenback Party advocated for inflation through the printing of paper money (greenbacks) and was strongly anti-monopoly. They aimed to address economic issues by increasing the money supply and reducing corporate dominance.

Why was Peter Cooper considered an interesting candidate for president in 1876?

Peter Cooper, a 85-year-old inventor and entrepreneur, was nominated by the Greenback Party. He was known for designing the first American steam locomotive and was not a politician. Despite his age, he became notable for his unconventional candidacy.

What was the controversy surrounding the electoral votes in the 1876 election?

The election results were contested in four states—Florida, Louisiana, Oregon, and South Carolina—where 20 electoral votes were disputed. Both parties accused the other of using manipulation, intimidation, and fraud, leading to the creation of an electoral commission to resolve the issue.

How did the electoral commission resolve the dispute over the 1876 election results?

The electoral commission, which consisted of representatives from both parties and Supreme Court justices, ultimately ruled in favor of Rutherford Hayes by awarding the disputed electoral votes. The tie-breaking vote was cast by Justice Joseph Bradley, a Republican sympathizer.

What was the Compromise of 1877, and how did it affect Reconstruction?

The Compromise of 1877 was an informal agreement in which Republicans agreed to withdraw federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction. This allowed Southern states to regain more control and led to the resurgence of discriminatory practices against African Americans.

How did the 1876 election impact the future of the Electoral College?

The 1876 election led to widespread criticism of the Electoral College due to the controversy over the disputed votes and the fact that the candidate who won the popular vote, Samuel Tilden, did not win the presidency. This election sparked debate over the fairness and legitimacy of the system.

What was the significance of the voter turnout in the 1876 election?

The 1876 election had the highest voter turnout in American history at the time, which highlighted the high level of engagement in the political process despite the contested results and political instability.