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?

Question

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

Answer 1

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.