The significance of the presidential election of 1876 primarily lies in the fact that it ended Reconstruction because it led to the Compromise of 1877. The election was highly contested, with Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel J. Tilden facing off. Tilden won the popular vote and had a lead in the Electoral College, but the results in several states were disputed.
The contested nature of the election led to a political compromise in which Hayes was given the presidency in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction. The Compromise of 1877 marked a significant turning point in American history, as it allowed white Democrats to regain control of the South, leading to the implementation of Jim Crow laws and the disenfranchisement of African Americans. Therefore, the correct answer is:
It ended Reconstruction because it led to the Compromise of 1877.