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Difficulty: EasyResistance to Reconstruction and its Ultimate Collapse

"We have at last seen the end of federal interference in our state affairs. The military detachments have departed, and the government of our state is once again in the hands of its own citizens. The era of home rule has been restored, and we can now manage our own local affairs without the dictates of northern officials."

—Excerpt from a Richmond newspaper editorial, April 1877

Which of the following historical developments was the direct cause of the sentiment expressed in the editorial?

  1. The Compromise of 1877, which resulted in the withdrawal of federal troops from the SouthAnswer
  2. B
    The ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment, which established federal protection for voting rights
  3. C
    The passage of the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, which divided the South into military districts
  4. D
    The application of popular sovereignty to determine the legal status of labor in southern states

Answer

The Compromise of 1877, which resulted in the withdrawal of federal troops from the South
The sentiment of celebrating 'home rule' and the departure of military forces was a direct result of the Compromise of 1877, which settled the disputed 1876 election of Rutherford B. Hayes in exchange for the withdrawal of all remaining federal troops from the South, marking the end of Reconstruction.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus text to identify the central theme and date.
The text, dated April 1877, celebrates the departure of military forces, the end of federal intervention, and the restoration of local 'home rule' in a Southern state.
Identifying the core message and the time period helps narrow down the historical event that caused this reaction.
2
Recall key historical developments of 1877 that marked the end of Reconstruction.
The Compromise of 1877 resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election by pulling the remaining federal troops out of the South.
Connecting the date and the event (removal of troops) directly explains the editorial's celebration of the departure of military detachments.
3
Evaluate the options to identify which matches the event and its outcomes.
The option stating the Compromise of 1877 led to the withdrawal of federal troops directly aligns with the details in the text, while other options refer to earlier events or different concepts.
This confirms the correct option while eliminating choices that describe the expansion of federal power or unrelated pre-war policies.

Key Concept

The Compromise of 1877 and the Collapse of Reconstruction
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Resistance to Reconstruction and its Ultimate Collapse

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