The Reconstruction Era in the United States, which followed the end of the Civil War in 1865, was a period of great political, social, and economic transformation, especially in the Southern states. It was marked by federal efforts to reintegrate former Confederate states into the Union and redefine the rights of newly freed African Americans. However, this ambitious chapter came to a close in the late 1870s. The president who oversaw the end of the Reconstruction Era was Rutherford B. Hayes. His presidency began at a time of deep national division and political compromise, ultimately leading to a significant shift in federal policy and the withdrawal of troops from the South.
Background of the Reconstruction Era
The Reconstruction Era began shortly after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and continued through the administrations of Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S. Grant. During this time, the federal government focused on rebuilding the South, protecting the rights of freedmen, and ensuring Southern states complied with the new constitutional amendments the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which abolished slavery and guaranteed equal rights and voting rights for African Americans.
Major Goals of Reconstruction
- Reintegrating Southern states into the Union
- Establishing civil rights and protections for former slaves
- Rebuilding Southern infrastructure and governance
- Transforming the South’s economy beyond plantation slavery
Despite some successes, the Reconstruction Era was marred by violent resistance, including the rise of white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan, as well as growing opposition from many white Southerners and Northern politicians weary of prolonged federal involvement in the South.
Rutherford B. Hayes and the Contested Election of 1876
Rutherford B. Hayes became the 19th President of the United States after one of the most disputed elections in American history. The presidential election of 1876, between Hayes, the Republican candidate, and Samuel J. Tilden, the Democrat, ended without a clear winner. Tilden won the popular vote and initially appeared to have secured enough electoral votes, but 20 of those votes from several Southern states were in dispute.
To resolve the crisis, Congress established a special Electoral Commission, which ultimately awarded the disputed votes and the presidency to Hayes. This decision came through what became known as the Compromise of 1877.
The Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877 was a pivotal moment in U.S. history. In exchange for Democrats accepting Hayes’s victory, Republicans agreed to several key concessions:
- Withdrawal of all remaining federal troops from the South
- Appointment of at least one Southern Democrat to Hayes’s cabinet
- Support for the construction of a Southern transcontinental railroad
- Non-interference in Southern political affairs
This informal but impactful agreement marked the effective end of federal Reconstruction policies in the South.
The End of Reconstruction Under Hayes
Once in office, President Rutherford B. Hayes moved quickly to fulfill the promises made during the Compromise of 1877. By removing federal troops from South Carolina and Louisiana the last two states with Republican governments propped up by military presence Hayes allowed Democrats to regain control of those states. This shift signaled a return to home rule and the reestablishment of white Democratic dominance in Southern politics.
Without federal protection, the progress of Reconstruction rapidly unraveled. Many Southern states enacted laws known as Jim Crow laws that systematically disenfranchised African Americans and segregated public spaces. The Supreme Court’s decision in cases likeUnited States v. Cruikshankand the laterPlessy v. Fergusonfurther eroded federal support for civil rights during this era.
Hayes’s Justification and Perspective
Rutherford B. Hayes defended his actions by emphasizing national unity and healing after years of civil war and division. He argued that the South would better address its own racial and social issues without Northern military occupation. However, critics have long noted that this decision abandoned millions of African Americans to a century of institutionalized racism and oppression without federal intervention.
Consequences of Ending Reconstruction
The end of the Reconstruction Era had long-lasting effects on American society and governance. By removing federal troops and ending active federal enforcement of civil rights, Hayes’s presidency allowed Southern states to suppress Black political power and civil liberties.
Key Impacts of the End of Reconstruction
- Rise of the Jim Crow era and legal segregation
- Disenfranchisement of African American voters through poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation
- Increase in racial violence, including lynchings
- Long-term inequality in education, employment, and housing
It would take nearly another century, during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, for the federal government to again take a strong stance on racial equality and voting rights in the South.
Legacy of Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes remains a controversial figure in American history. Some historians credit him with helping to reunify the country after years of conflict and crisis. Others criticize him for compromising on civil rights and ending Reconstruction prematurely, leaving African Americans vulnerable to systemic discrimination for generations.
Hayes himself later expressed regret over the consequences of the Compromise of 1877 and the deterioration of rights for Black Americans. Nonetheless, his presidency marked a turning point in U.S. history, when federal commitment to racial equality was largely set aside for political stability and reconciliation with the South.
In summary, the president who oversaw the end of the Reconstruction Era was Rutherford B. Hayes. Through his election following the Compromise of 1877, he initiated the withdrawal of federal troops from the South and ended federal enforcement of Reconstruction laws. While aimed at restoring national unity, the result was the abandonment of African American rights and the rise of a deeply segregated and unequal Southern society that would endure for many decades. Understanding this turning point helps illuminate how political decisions can shape the course of justice and equality in a nation’s history.