What effect did Florida,Louisiana, and South Carolina have on the election of 1876?
Check this article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1876
The election of 1876 was a controversial and closely contested presidential election in the United States. The states of Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina played a significant role in determining the outcome of this election. Let's explore their impact:
1. Florida: Florida was one of the key swing states. Both the Republican candidate, Rutherford B. Hayes, and the Democratic candidate, Samuel J. Tilden, claimed victory in the state. However, there were allegations of voter fraud, voter suppression, and intimidation tactics by both parties. To resolve the dispute, an Electoral Commission was established to investigate the validity of the electoral votes from Florida.
2. Louisiana: Similar to Florida, Louisiana was another hotly contested state. The state's election was marred by violence, voter intimidation, and widespread fraud. Both parties claimed victory, leading to a deadlock. Like Florida, the Electoral Commission investigated the situation in Louisiana to determine which party's electors should be recognized.
3. South Carolina: South Carolina witnessed similar voter suppression and fraud allegations as Florida and Louisiana. The election in the state was marked by violence and intimidation against African American voters. As with the other two states, the Electoral Commission played a vital role in resolving the dispute and determining the validity of the electoral votes.
The impact of these three states was crucial because they held a combined 19 electoral votes, which could potentially determine the outcome of the election. The unresolved and disputed electoral votes from these states led to months of political negotiations, compromises, and ultimately, the Compromise of 1877.
Under the Compromise of 1877, the Democrats agreed to recognize Hayes as the winner of the election in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from the Southern states. This effectively ended the era of Reconstruction and allowed the Democrats to regain political control in the South. Hayes became the President, and Reconstruction policies were abandoned, making this election a turning point in American history.
In summary, the disputed electoral votes in Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina had a significant impact on the election of 1876, leading to a contentious political environment and the eventual compromise that determined the outcome of the election.