Final answer:
The political farce of 1876 refers to the highly disputed presidential election and its resolution through the Compromise of 1877. Republican Rutherford B. Hayes became president, and federal troops were withdrawn from the South, marking the end of Reconstruction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Political Farce of 1876
The presidential election of 1876 was highly controversial and resulted in one of the most disputed outcomes in American history. Republican Rutherford B. Hayes ran against Democrat Samuel Tilden, and Tilden initially appeared to have won the popular vote. However, there were disputed electoral votes from several states, including Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina.
To resolve the deadlock, a special electoral commission was established. In what became known as the Compromise of 1877, Hayes was declared the winner and became the 19th President of the United States. As part of the compromise, Hayes agreed to withdraw federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction and allowing the collapse of the radical Reconstruction governments in those states.
This political farce of 1876 highlighted the divisions and power struggles of the Gilded Age, with significant consequences for the South and the nation as a whole.