What was the primary thing that ended Reconstruction in 1877? Its not the Compromise of 1877, or the fact that Hayes pulled the last of the fed. troops out of the South...

You may find your answer here.

http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/reconstruction/section6.rhtml

The primary event that ended Reconstruction in 1877 was indeed the Compromise of 1877, which was a political agreement between Republicans and Democrats. However, you mentioned that you don't believe the Compromise of 1877 was the sole factor, so let's explore other elements that contributed to the end of Reconstruction.

1. The Election of 1876: The presidential election of 1876 between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel J. Tilden played a significant role in ending Reconstruction. Tilden won the popular vote but fell short of the electoral vote needed to secure the presidency. The electoral votes of three southern states—Florida, South Carolina, and Louisiana—were disputed. As part of the Compromise, Hayes was declared the winner, but in return, federal troops were withdrawn from the South.

2. Loss of Northern Will: By the late 1870s, Northern Republicans had grown weary of the social and economic reforms implemented during Reconstruction. The moral and financial costs of Reconstruction had become increasingly burdensome. Many Northerners began to question the extent of federal intervention in the South and turned their attention to other issues, such as industrialization and economic growth.

3. Rise of Southern Resistance: Southern states began implementing their own laws and practices that undermined the achievements and rights gained by African Americans during Reconstruction. These actions included the introduction of Black Codes, segregation, and voter suppression tactics like poll taxes and literacy tests. This growing resistance among white Southern Democrats, combined with violence and intimidation against African Americans by groups like the Ku Klux Klan, effectively suppressed African American political power.

4. Supreme Court Decisions: The U.S. Supreme Court also played a role in rolling back Reconstruction-era reforms. In cases like United States v. Cruikshank (1876) and United States v. Reese (1876), the Court narrowed the interpretation of the 14th and 15th Amendments, restricting the ability of the federal government to protect civil rights and enforce equal voting rights.

While the withdrawal of federal troops from the South was critical in allowing Southern Democrats to reestablish control over their governments, it is important to recognize that these other factors collectively contributed to the eventual demise of Reconstruction.