Why were many Southerners angered by the decision to award the 1876 election to Rutherford B. Hayes following several disputes regarding the electoral votes of Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana and Oregon?
Many Democrats in these states were prevented from voting by violence
African Americans in these states were disenfranchised by the use of literacy tests
Tilden, the candidate supported by much of the South, won the popular vote
Hayes, a supporter of high tariffs, was awarded the votes of unincorporated territories
All of these factors contributed to the anger and frustration felt by many Southerners following the decision to award the 1876 election to Rutherford B. Hayes.
1. Violence and voter suppression: Many Democrats in Florida, South Carolina, and Louisiana, which were all Southern states, were prevented from voting due to violence and intimidation by various groups, including the Ku Klux Klan. This led to a significant portion of the Southern Democratic vote being suppressed.
2. Disenfranchisement of African Americans: African Americans in the South, who were primarily Republican supporters, were systematically disenfranchised through laws such as literacy tests and poll taxes. These measures were aimed at preventing African Americans from exercising their right to vote, thereby diluting their political influence.
3. Tilden winning the popular vote: Samuel J. Tilden, the Democratic candidate, won the popular vote in the 1876 election. This fact aggravated Southern Democrats, as it seemed to validate their belief that Hayes' victory was not reflective of the will of the people.
4. Hayes' support for high tariffs: Hayes, a Republican, was known to be a supporter of high tariffs on imported goods. This stance went against the interests of Southern Democrats, as it could harm their agricultural economy, which relied heavily on exporting crops and importing goods.
These multiple grievances combined to generate a strong sense of injustice and frustration among many Southerners, who believed that the election had been unfairly decided. The contentious aftermath of the 1876 election further deepened the already existing division between the Northern and Southern states.
Many Southerners were angered by the decision to award the 1876 election to Rutherford B. Hayes due to several reasons. Here are the step-by-step explanations:
1. Democrats prevented from voting by violence: Many Democrats in the southern states of Florida, South Carolina, and Louisiana were prevented from voting through acts of violence. This voter suppression tactic was used by white supremacist groups to intimidate and discourage African Americans, who primarily supported the Democratic Party.
2. Disenfranchisement of African Americans through literacy tests: African Americans in these states were also disenfranchised through the use of literacy tests. These tests were designed to be difficult and subjective, often used to deny voting rights to African Americans. The intent was to maintain white political dominance and ensure that African Americans could not participate in the electoral process.
3. Tilden won the popular vote: Samuel J. Tilden, the Democratic candidate, won the popular vote in the 1876 election. Many Southerners, who largely supported Tilden, believed that the popular vote should be the deciding factor in determining the winner. They viewed Hayes's victory as an unfair outcome that did not reflect the will of the people.
4. Hayes awarded votes of unincorporated territories: It is not accurate to say that Hayes was awarded the votes of unincorporated territories. The disputed electoral votes in the election were from the states of Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Oregon, not unincorporated territories. The issue of unincorporated territories did not play a significant role in the anger of many Southerners.
Many Southerners were angered by the decision to award the 1876 election to Rutherford B. Hayes for several reasons. One of the key factors was the disputes regarding the electoral votes of Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Oregon.
Firstly, many Democrats in these Southern states were prevented from voting due to violent tactics. During this period, political and racial violence was rampant, and African Americans, who predominantly voted for the Republican Party, faced intimidation and threats to deter them from voting.
Secondly, African Americans in these states were disenfranchised through the use of literacy tests. These tests were designed to prevent African Americans, who had only recently gained the right to vote through the 15th Amendment, from exercising their voting rights. They were often administered unfairly and used to exclude African Americans from participating in the electoral process.
Additionally, the candidate supported by much of the South, Samuel J. Tilden, won the popular vote. Tilden, a Democrat, had strong support in Southern states, and his victory in the popular vote added to the frustration of many Southerners who believed their preferred candidate had been denied the presidency.
Lastly, some Southerners were unhappy with Hayes because he was a supporter of high tariffs. Tariffs were taxes on imported goods, and Southern states relied heavily on imported goods while also exporting agricultural products. Higher tariffs would have made imported goods more expensive and potentially hurt Southern economies.
In summary, the anger among many Southerners following the decision to award the 1876 election to Rutherford B. Hayes stemmed from a combination of factors, including voter suppression and disenfranchisement, the belief that their preferred candidate won the popular vote, and disagreement with Hayes's stance on high tariffs.