The Compromise of 1877

The Compromise of 1877, known to some as the Great Betrayal, is most notably known for marking the end of Reconstruction. First, though, it is important to focus on the highly controversial election of 1866. The results were almost equal between Republican Candidate Rutherford Hayes and Democrat Candidate Samuel Tilden. It seemed that Tilden would win, with 184 electoral votes (185 were needed to win) and a popular vote lead of 250,000. The Republicans, however, did not want to be defeated. They said that the South attacked and intimidated African-Americans to keep them from heading to the polling places and voting. This election had lots of fighting and blood. Some states, such as Louisiana, submitted two election returns with different results. Controversies like these led to inconclusive results.

Congress decided to step in in an attempt to solve the problems and stop the bloodshed. The Republicans came up with the plan known as the Great Compromise. They proposed to take Northern troops out of the South, thus ending military involvement. There were very few white Republicans in the South after this withdrawal, which allowed the Democrats to increase their power. In return for taking out Northern troops, the South had to recognize Hayes as president (a Republican) and protect the civil rights of African-Americans. Included in the terms of the Compromise was the appointment of a Southern politician to Hayes’s Cabinet. Also, for Hayes to become president, the North had to finance the construction of a transcontinental railroad that ran through the South, which would boost their economy. In reality, many of these terms were not upheld.

Both the North and the South did not keep to their promises. Although a Southern politician was appointed to Hayes’s Cabinet and Northern troops left the South, a railroad through the South was never built. The South recognized Hayes’s presidency, but did not protect the civil rights or freedoms of ex-slaves.

The Compromise of 1877 was not quite a compromise. Although some of the basic terms were carried out, many of the conditions were overlooked. Furthermore, the actions on both sides were highly suspicious. The North bribed the South in return for Northern, Republican presidency. The South refused to protect the rights of slaves and the North never built the transcontinental railroad through the South. The main significance of this Compromise was that it ended Reconstruction. Democrats took control of the South because there was no more Northern military involvement. The Southern Democrats took away the franchise from African-Americans and the Northerners did not stop them, especially because they got increasingly tired of dealing with the South. The Reconstruction Era ultimately ended with this “Great Betrayal.” Despite a period of opportunity for freedmen (the beginnings of Reconstruction), after the Compromise of 1877, Jim Crow Laws and segregation became widespread in the United States. This Compromise was especially a betrayal for the ex-slaves, who were increasingly segregated in all facets of life for the next half of a century.

Sources:

https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/compromise-of-1877

https://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h396.html