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Difficulty: EasyResistance to Reconstruction and its Ultimate Collapse

"My policy is trust, peace, and to put aside the bayonet. I believe this will result in the restoration of good feeling and the protection of all citizens."

— President Rutherford B. Hayes, diary entry, 1877

Which of the following historical developments was a direct result of the policy described in the excerpt?

  1. The removal of federal troops from the South, which led to the collapse of Reconstruction governments.Answer
  2. B
    The passage of the Force Acts to suppress vigilante violence against African Americans.
  3. C
    The division of the South into military districts under the Reconstruction Acts.
  4. D
    The ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to guarantee equal protection under the law.

Answer

The removal of federal troops from the South, which led to the collapse of Reconstruction governments.
The correct answer is correct because President Rutherford B. Hayes's policy of 'putting aside the bayonet' describes his decision to withdraw the remaining federal occupation troops from the South. This action was the key concession of the Compromise of 1877, which settled the contested presidential election of 1876 and directly led to the collapse of the remaining Republican-led state governments, marking the end of Reconstruction.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the author, date, and context of the quote.
The quote is from President Rutherford B. Hayes's diary in 1877, the year he assumed office following the contested election of 1876.
Establishing the historical timeframe (1877) helps place the quote within the context of the end of Reconstruction.
2
Analyze the meaning of 'putting aside the bayonet' in the context of 1877.
The 'bayonet' refers to the use of federal military force to protect Reconstruction governments in the South. Putting it aside meant withdrawing these troops.
Understanding the metaphor allows the student to link Hayes's policy to the Compromise of 1877.
3
Select the option that reflects the historical outcome of this troop withdrawal.
The withdrawal of federal troops left the last Republican state governments in the South without military protection, allowing white Democratic 'Redeemers' to take full control, ending Reconstruction.
This directly matches the historical significance of the Compromise of 1877.

Key Concept

The Compromise of 1877 and the collapse of Reconstruction governments through the withdrawal of federal troops.
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Resistance to Reconstruction and its Ultimate Collapse

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