Historical background
The Civil War, the worst American conflict to date had just ended in 1865. 750,000 people lay dead on the various battlegrounds of the war. The South's industries and farms had been totally destroyed by Union troops, and the nation lay in turmoil, perhaps more so than during the war itself.
"Between 1865 and 1877, the federal government carried out a program to repair the damage to the South and restore Southern states to the Union. This program, known as Reconstruction, was hugely controversial at the time, and historians continue to debate its successes and failures to this day." - America: Pathways to the Present, pg. 200
mycivilwar.com
"For many African-Americans, the initial surge of joy at gaining freedom quickly faded as they realized how many obstacles stood between them and true equality. Under [President Andrew] Johnson's plan for Reconstruction, former Confederates were pardoned, state governments were restored, and the White leaders of these
governments acted quickly to pass laws that severely restricted African Americans' new found freedom. ... [In the North], a reluctance to grant Civil Rights began to dissolve in early 1866, as word spread of new violence against
African Americans. In April, the famous Civil War nurse Clara Barton gave graphic testimony in Congress about injured black victims she had treated. During the next three months, white rioters went on rampages against African Americans in Memphis, New Orleans, and New York City. White police sometimes joined in the stabbings, shootings, and hangings that killed thousands. Despite public outrage against the brutality, [President] Johnson continued to oppose equal rights for African Americans." - America: Pathways to the Present, pgs. 206-208
governments acted quickly to pass laws that severely restricted African Americans' new found freedom. ... [In the North], a reluctance to grant Civil Rights began to dissolve in early 1866, as word spread of new violence against
African Americans. In April, the famous Civil War nurse Clara Barton gave graphic testimony in Congress about injured black victims she had treated. During the next three months, white rioters went on rampages against African Americans in Memphis, New Orleans, and New York City. White police sometimes joined in the stabbings, shootings, and hangings that killed thousands. Despite public outrage against the brutality, [President] Johnson continued to oppose equal rights for African Americans." - America: Pathways to the Present, pgs. 206-208
westvalley.edu
The following scandal-plagued Grant administration and unrest in the South were huge problems in the country throughout the next eight years . So, in 1876, voters were looking for a candidate that could fix America's problems.
cartoonstock.com, xtimeline.com
Back in 1876, the Civil War had been over for only eleven years. Black men had finally won the right to vote, but Southern whites were vigorously attempting to regain their power over their state legislatures. Deep sectional antagonisms still divided the nation, with the industrial and commercial North mostly supporting Republicans, and the White South supporting the Democrats. - Dr. Manning Marable
-Excerpt from book talk with Michael Holt, author of the book The Disputed Election of 1876.