A Level History - America - Practice Exam

What was the Compromise of 1877 primarily about?

1. Restoration of Confederate states' rights

2. A political agreement regarding presidential elections

3. Reconstruction funding for Southern states

4. Ending the gold standard

The correct answer is: A political agreement regarding presidential elections

The Compromise of 1877 was primarily about a political agreement regarding presidential elections. This arrangement emerged from the highly contested 1876 presidential election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden. Tilden won the popular vote but was one electoral vote short of victory due to disputed results in several Southern states. In an effort to resolve the impasse and avoid a constitutional crisis, the Compromise involved a deal whereby Hayes would be awarded the presidency in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from the Southern states, effectively ending the Reconstruction era. This agreement marked a significant shift in political power and relations between the North and South and had lasting implications for civil rights in the post-Reconstruction era. Other choices reflect elements that were relevant during this time but do not directly address the essence of the Compromise of 1877. The restoration of Confederate states' rights, for instance, was a consequence of this political agreement but not the core focus. Reconstruction funding for Southern states was part of wider post-war policies but didn't play a central role in this specific compromise. Ending the gold standard, while an important financial issue, was unrelated to the political negotiations surrounding the election and the resolution of federal-state tensions post-Reconstruction.