The End of Reconstruction
 

I. Introduction

A. Traditionally, Reconstruction is held to have ended in 1877, when newly-inaugurated President Rutherford B. Hayes ordered the last federal troops left on duty in the South to return to their barracks—and, as part and parcel of this order, abandoned the last Republican regimes in the South.

B. It's more appropriate to recognize that by 1877 Reconstruction was already moribund. The Republican party had acquiesced as the "Redeemers" ran roughshod over the normal workings of democratic politics. It had never seriously pursued economic equality for the freedman, and its commitment to black suffrage was always more expedient than principled. The North at large was increasingly absorbed with economic issues, not with the old sectional agenda.

C. Still, the disputed election of 1876 is worth a look, because it reveals the emerging political combinations in the East, West, and South.

II. The Political Landscape of the 1870s

A. Revival of strong two-party system; well-organized; strong party loyalties. High voter turnout; many close elections.

B. Republicans. Standard tactic: Waving the "bloody shirt"—applied not just to former Confederates but Democrats in general. Point was to remind voters that Republican Party had saved the Union. Strong appeal to Union veterans. Grand Army of the Republic established basically to mobilize support for Republican Party. Bloody shirt remained a popular tactic until the mid-1880s, but by mid-70s was losing its efficacy. Had to wave the shirt very hard to distract voters from economic issues. Slump made Republicans vulnerable. Lost control of House in 1874; would eventually lose Senate too.

C. Democrats:Northern Democrats revived the anti-government policies of Jackson. Suspicious of support for business, tariffs, internal improvements.

D. Growing difference between West and Northeast. Northeast interested in "sound money", West in free silver and greenbacks; Northeast emphasized subsidies for railroads; West sought control of railroads. Northeast emphasized industrialization; West favored agrarian interests.

E. Southern Democrats united behind "redemption" and "home rule", but this hid fact that the Southern Democratic Party was a shotgun marriage between Democrats and former Whigs. In 1830s and 1840s these parties had fought each other and developed extremely strong party loyalties. Sectional crisis had submerged these in a common effort to protect slavery and white supremacy.

1. Now that white supremacy assured, distinctions becoming evident:

2. Bourbons—planter class; agrarian emphasis.

3. Whig-industrialists—interested in manufacturing, business, railroading and internal improvements.

4. Would South side with West or Northeast?

III. The Disputed Election of 1876

A. Two conservative reform candidates—Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden. Hayes a war hero; Tilden the governor who had wrecked the Tammany Hall ring.

B. Early returns gave Tilden a popular vote majority of 300,000 and 184 electoral votes—one short of a majority. Turned out there were twenty disputed electoral votes in South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida, the three remaining states under Republican control. Both parties asserted they had carried the state.

C. Who would decide? No clear answer under Constitution. Congress was the most likely agent, but which House?

D. Electoral Commission established—5 Republicans, 5 Dems, 5 Supreme Court Justices. Latter supposedly above politics but really 2 Republicans, 2 Democrats, and a fifth justice, David Davis. Elected to Senate; replaced by a Republican.

E. Dems refused to abide result; filibustered in House. Idea was to delay a decision beyond March 4, thereby enabling House to select the President. Would have chosen Tilden.

IV. The Compromise of 1877

A. Traditional story

B. Actual story

C. Significance—effort to ally with Whig-industrialists; substitute them for blacks as basis for Republican Party.

V. Conclusion