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The Hayes-Tilden Election

The Hayes-Tilden Election. a/k/a the Compromise of 1877 and the end of Reconstruction. In spite of the support of some. . . President Grant declined to run for a 3rd term:

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The Hayes-Tilden Election

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  1. The Hayes-Tilden Election a/k/a the Compromise of 1877 and the end of Reconstruction

  2. In spite of the support of some. . • President Grant declined to run for a 3rd term: • “Grant … had no right to exist. He should have been extinct for ages. . . That, two thousand years after Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, a man like Grant should be called - and should actually and truly be - the highest product of the most advanced evolution, made evolution ludicrous. . . The progress of evolution from President Washington to President Grant, was alone evidence enough to upset Darwin. . . Grant . . . Should have lived in a cave and worn skins.” Henry Adams

  3. The Election of 1876 • President Grant was not running for re-election - he wouldn’t have made it if he had • The country was looking for recovery from scandal and corruption

  4. The Candidates - The Republicans • The candidate was the former Governor of Ohio - Rutherford B. Hayes • Dubbed “the Great Unknown” because few had heard of him outside of Ohio • He was a Civil War veteran, therefore looked good to follow General Grant

  5. Slogan about Hayes • Some are born great, • Some achieve greatness, • and some are born in Ohio • Part of the reason for Hayes’ selection was to secure Ohio’s electoral votes

  6. The Democrat • Samuel J. Tilden • Governor of New York and the man who had “bagged” Boss Tweed • In the election, Tilden received 184 electoral votes - he needed 185

  7. Enter . . . the mess • The popular vote had clearly gone to Tilden: 4,284,020 to 4,036,572 • Three states’ electoral votes were in question because of their status in Reconstruction (they did not yet have a new, non-military government and had not yet been officially been re-admitted to the Union)

  8. The Vote by State See Text: pg. 519

  9. What Happened Next • There were 20 electoral votes in question - Tilden needed one • 19 of them were from the states of Louisiana, South Carolina, and yes, Florida • Each of these states was still under a Reconstruction government and had not formally returned to the Union • The last disputed electoral vote was from Oregon - the person voting was ineligible

  10. Who Counts the Votes??? • Each of the three southern states sent two sets of electoral votes - one Democratic and one Republican • Which set would count depended on who counted them - the Speaker of the House was a Democrat - the President of the Senate was a Republican • The Congress - despite threats of armed insurrection - compromised

  11. The Electoral Count Act • Passed in 1877, the act made the following provisions: • The election would be decided by an electoral commission • 15 men selected from the Senate, House, Supreme Court (Where is this in the Constitution???) • See the partisan composition on pg. 520

  12. The Vote Counting • Florida’s votes were sent to the Electoral Commission • The EC voted to accept the Republican Electoral Votes by a party-line vote of 8-7 • If this kept up, Hayes would win • The rest of the compromise was hammered out • In exchange for Hayes winning the race, Federal troops would be removed from LA and FL - Reconstruction was over!!

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