Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Birth-Death: (1822 - 1893 ) Term: (1877-1881 )

Reconstruction was coming to an end and a widespread depression had farmers in an uproar. Everyone had their own idea on how to fix things but Hayes managed to keep his cool and think things out.

Major Events with Rutherford Hayes

1876 - Compromise of 1876

    During the Reconstruction Era, the Republican Party "waved the bloody shirt" to gather the majority of the votes in the South. However, by 1876 this technique's usefulness was fading as the Democrats regained influence in politics.

    The election of 1876 resulted in a dispute when Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina reported two sets of electoral votes. Deomocrat Samuel J. Tilden recieved 184 votes, one short of winning the election. The Constitution did not provide an answer for such a scenario.

    Thus, after much debate, an Electoral Commission was formed in which a compromise was reached. Hayes would become President by an electoral vote of 185 to 184. In return, federal troops would be withdrawn from the South, reparations would be paid for the railroads, and a Southern cabinet member would be appointed.

1878 - Bland-Allison Act

    The Bland-Allison Act replaced the 1873 bill which discontinued the coinage of silver. The act required the Federal Government to buy from two to four billion dollars of silver every month and mint it at a ratio of 16 silver to 1 gold. The "Gold bugs" protested saying that this would destroy the nation's economy, and President Hayes vetoed the bill, but the silverites were able to find the two thirds majority necessary to override his veto.