After the Civil War, a period of political instability began in the United States. The country faced the task of restoring relations between the federal government and southern states, and this political process was called Reconstruction (Conlin, 2013). By the 1876 election, the population was significantly tired of Reconstruction and the accompanying tensions (Greenfield, 2003). An unstable environment led to a controversial election, which Morris (2003) called stolen. New York Governor Samuel J. Tilden, a Democratic candidate, and Governor Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio, a Republican candidate, participated in the 1876 election (Conlin, 2013). Tilden won the general election and electoral college, but because of disputed votes in the territory of South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana, his victory was disputed. Congress created a commission to resolve the issue of the presidency, where Republicans gained an advantage (Conlin, 2013). Although Tilden could challenge the result, he decided to cede the post not to increase the tension in the country.
The 1876 election was among the most contested and debated. Many researchers conclude that Tilden won the election despite the commission’s decision and controversy (Greenfield, 2003; Morris, 2003). Morris (2003) claims that Tilden was a patriot and honest politician who advocated fair play and had numerous achievements, including the destruction of the Tweed Ring. However, due to the desire for fair rules, he did not challenge the result and could not become president. Although both parties used deceptive methods, in the end, the Democrats decided to concede (Greenfield, 2003). Tilden said he did not want a new war and the destruction of free government (Greenfield, 2003). Thus, the controversial election of 1876 can be considered stolen according to many researchers, but Tilden conceded the results without fighting for them.
References
Conlin, J. R. (2013). The American past: A survey of American history. Volume II: Since 1865 (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Greenfield, J. (2003). Hayes’s ride: In 1876, a Democratic candidate won the presidency, but, through a lack of nerve lost the recount. Sound familiar? Washington Monthly, 50-52.
Morris, R. (2003). Fraud of the century: Rutherford B. Hayes, Samuel Tilden, and the stolen election of 1876. Simon and Schuster.