The Presidential Election of 1876 Tilden-Hayes

Remember… The incumbent is Pres. Ulysses S. Grant Grant, using “the spoils system,” appointed his trusted “buddies” to positions of power

Grant’s Administration His friends proved to be so corrupt that the government was not efficient People (including Republicans) grew tired of this By 1876, they were desperate for a change

Samuel Tilden A Democrat named Samuel Tilden (who, years earlier, had successfully prosecuted Boss Tweed) became the candidate for president Tilden’s plan was to reform or clean up government, to replace any government leaders who were corrupt

Rutherford B. Hayes Against Tilden, the Republicans would run Rutherford Hayes Hayes wanted to continue “business as usual” and not to change anything

The Results? As the election was held, it was clear that the results would be very close The Republicans, who controlled both houses of congress, were very concerned

The Results… When the popular votes were counted, the result was: Tilden (D) = 4,284,020 Hayes [R] = 4,036,572 • And the electoral votes: Tilden (D) = 204 Hayes [R] = 165

The Winner…? Democrat Samuel Tilden would, therefore, become the President of the United States! Except that the Republican-controlled Congress didn’t like that outcome So, calculating that 20 votes would need to be “changed,” officially demanded a recount of the votes in 4 states:

The “Disputed” Electoral Votes SC = its 7 electoral votes LA = its 8 electoral votes Florida = its 4 electoral votes Oregon = we’ll only need to recount 1 of its 3 electoral votes All 20 of these electoral votes need to be re-checked…

The Recount So the Republicans in Congress appoint a committee to re-check these “disputed” electoral votes They are careful to include a good number of Democrats (to be totally fair, see?) The committee: 7 Democrats & 8 Republicans

The Committee Works… The committee carefully examines the 20 disputed electoral votes After careful recounting, the committee votes that: LA’s 8 votes were really for Hayes (8-7) SC’s 7 votes were really for Hayes (8-7) FL’s 4 votes were really for Hayes (8-7) OR’s 1 vote was really for Hayes (8-7)

The Result! So, after a careful re-examination by a committee representing both parties, all of the 20 disputed votes are awarded to Republican Rutherford B. Hayes And Hayes wins the election (in electoral votes) 185-184. Amazing!

The Bargain Now, the Democrats (mainly in the South) could dispute this; they could take it all the way up to the Supreme Court The Republicans clearly don’t want this to happen, so they make an offer… The one thing the Southern Democrats want more than a reform president is…

The Hated Occupying Army! To have the hated US army removed from the South The army is forcing southerners to obey the laws passed by the US Congress that are punishing them for the Civil War The army is forcing the South to accept Reconstruction

The “Agreement” So the northern Congress offers to remove the army if the South will accept the results of the election of 1876, and will accept Rutherford Hayes as the 19th President The South agrees

The Results of the Election of 1876 Hayes is sworn in as the 19th president and the Republican congress stays firmly in control of the government And the army is pulled out of the South, allowing: Former CSA leaders to regain control Freed slaves to lose their civil rights

Reconstruction is OVER .

2000 Election

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