The United States presidential election of 1876 was a pivotal moment in American history. The two major candidates were Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel J. Tilden. The election results were contested by allegations of fraud, disputed electoral votes, and political maneuvering.
Though Tilden won the popular vote but both candidates claimed victory in several key states. The dispute over electoral votes in Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina created a political crisis, as both parties accused each other of manipulating the results.
To resolve the deadlock, a special Electoral Commission was established to ultimately award the disputed electoral votes to Hayes in a decision known as the "Compromise of 1877." As part of the deal, Hayes, a Republican, agreed to withdraw federal troops from the South, effectively ending the era of Reconstruction. Without protection from physical violence and voter intimidation Black Americans would see the gradual erosion of their newly won civil rights and mark the beginning of the Jim Crow Era.
The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.
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The Election of 1876