The Compromise of 1877

The Compromise of 1877 was an unwritten agreement between Republicans and Democrats, which brought an end to Reconstruction. Immediately after the Civil War, there was sentiment from the North to completely reform the South, which was known as Reconstruction. However, throughout the 1970's, Reconstruction became increasingly unpopular as many whites started to use violence against blacks as seen by groups such as the KKK.

The election of 1876 was between Democratic candidate Samuel B. Tilden and Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes. Tilden was winning both the electoral and popular votes, but it was not by a significant margin. However, Republicans "accused Democratic supporters of intimidating and bribing African-American voters to prevent them from voting," particularly in the more radical states South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida. 

This argument from the Republicans was in fact true in South Carolina as "Wade Hampton, a former Confederate general, had used violence and intimidation to confront the African-American voting majority." Thus, there came into question whether Hayes would have won the election if it weren't for the manipulation of the votes of African Americans from white Southerners.

To settle this conflict, Congress decided to set up an electoral commission in 1877. During the commission discussions, Republicans met with moderate Democrats to make a deal, which became known as the Compromise of 1877. In exchange for Hayes being elected as President, Republicans had to withdraw troops from the South, officially ending Reconstruction. In addition, "Hayes would also have to agree to name a leading southerner to his cabinet." As a result of this compromise, Hayes was able to win the election, and power was restored back to whites.

With the end of Reconstruction, it brought about increasing sentiment towards white supremacy. In the South, Jim Crow laws were immediately enforced, and the idea of "separate but not equal" emerged. The racial discrimination against African Americans persisted until the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's, which was almost a century later. Thus, the Compromise of 1877 demonstrates how radical steps such as Reconstruction to reform the South may not be so easily and quickly achieved because there will be increasing opposition.

Sources:
https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/compromise-of-1877
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-us-history/period-5/apush-reconstruction/a/compromise-of-1877