Question

In exchange for Democratic support in the constitutional crisis created by the disputed outcome of the election of 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes ________.

a) Withdrew federal troops from the South
b) Imposed harsher Reconstruction policies
c) Promised land reforms for African Americans
d) Advocated for voting rights for women

Answer 1

Rutherford B. Hayes resolved the disputed election of 1876 through the Compromise of 1877 by withdrawing federal troops from the South, which ended Reconstruction and allowed Southern Democrats to regain control over their regional governance.

Step-by-step explanation:

In exchange for Democratic support in the constitutional crisis created by the disputed outcome of the election of 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes withdrew federal troops from the South. This concession was a fundamental part of the Compromise of 1877, which informally resolved the election impasse between Hayes and his opponent, Democrat Samuel J. Tilden. In return for the Democrats' acceptance of Hayes's presidency, the Republicans agreed to several conditions that favored the Southern states, including removing federal troops, which effectively ended the era of Reconstruction.

Reconstruction officially ended as a result of this compromise, leading to the so-called 'Solid South,' where Democrats regained control over Southern states. This had lasting consequences on the political and social dynamics in the South, including the undermining of African Americans' rights achieved during Reconstruction.