Two events were critical in this regard. The first was the infamous Compromise of 1877, which ended the 1876 presidential election dispute and elevated Republican Rutherford B. Hayes to the presidency in exchange for a promise to remove federal troops from the South. The pact effectively ended Reconstruction, which, by stripping away hard-fought federal protections for African Americans, allowed southern Democrats to undo basic democratic rights and consolidate single-party rule.
The Compromise of 1877 was a pivotal moment in American history, resolving the contested 1876 presidential election by granting Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency. In return, Hayes promised to withdraw federal troops from Southern states. This decision marked the conclusion of the Reconstruction era, during which federal protections were established to support African American rights.
With the removal of these protections, Southern Democrats regained control and were able to dismantle many...
