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6. 7 The Compromise of 1877
In the Presidential elections of 1876, Democrats
had raised several events or charges of irregularities in the southern
states: Louisiana, South Carolina and Florida. Here the election
boards had counted the popular votes for the post of President,
in favor of the Republicans. The Democrats leveled the charge that
the votes there had actually gone in their favor. The Democrats
further questioned the legitimacy of a Republican election in Oregon.
To solve the crises, a commission was set up to
decide all the cases in the favor of the Republicans. The dispute
went on for several months. Finally the 2 parties came to a compromise.
By this compromise, the Democrats agreed not to oppose the selectors.
In return, the Republicans agreed that the new Republican government
would remove all federal troops from the south. Further it would
give political patronage to white southerners and also accept economic
legislation that would favor southern states.
Hayes who had expressed sympathy for the rights
of blacks during the elections, finally squandered their rights
in the compromise of 1877. And all Republican efforts to protect
Civil Rights in the South were washed out due to political expediency.
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