"We, the people of the South, have been restored to our rightful place of self-government. The federal bayonets have been removed from our state capitols, and the dark night of Reconstruction is finally at an end."
—Adapted from a Southern newspaper editorial, 1877
The sentiment expressed in the editorial was a direct result of which of the following historical developments?
- The Compromise of 1877, which resulted in the withdrawal of federal troops from the SouthAnswer
- BThe ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment, which guaranteed equal protection under the law
- CThe transition from Presidential Reconstruction to Radical Reconstruction under Congressional control
- DThe implementation of popular sovereignty to decide the status of slavery in the territories
Answer
The Compromise of 1877, which resulted in the withdrawal of federal troops from the South
The correct answer is correct because the Compromise of 1877 settled the contested 1876 presidential election by awarding electoral votes to Republican Rutherford B. Hayes in exchange for the removal of federal troops from the South. This troop withdrawal allowed Southern Democrats to regain control of state governments, bringing an end to Reconstruction.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The Compromise of 1877 and the end of Reconstruction
Estimated Time:45s