U.S. presidential election, 1876

The U.S. presidential election of 1876 was perhaps the most disputed presidential election in American history. Samuel Tilden handily defeated Ohio's Rutherford Hayes in the popular vote, and had 184 electoral votes to Hayes' 165, with 20 votes yet uncounted. These 20 electoral votes were in dispute: in three states (Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina) each party reported its candidate had won the state, while in Oregon one elector was declared illegal (on account of being an "elected or appointed official") and replaced.

General election

Electoral disputes

See also: Electoral Commission (US)

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In Florida (4 votes), Louisiana (8) and South Carolina (7), official returns favored Tilden, but election results in each state were marked by fraud and threats of violence against Republican voters. The Republican-dominated state electoral commissions subsequently disallowed a sufficient number of Democratic votes to award their electoral votes to Hayes.

Related Topics:
Florida - Louisiana - South Carolina

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In Oregon meanwhile just a single elector was disputed. The statewide result clearly had favored Hayes, but the state's Democratic Governor (LaFayette Grover) claimed that that elector, just-former postmaster John Watts, was constitutionally ineligible to vote since he was an "elected or appointed official". Grover then substituted a Democratic elector in his place. The two Republican electors dismissed Grover's action and each reported three votes for Hayes, while the Democratic elector, C. A. Cronin, reported one vote for Tilden and two votes for Hayes. (Ultimately, all three of Oregon's votes were awarded to Hayes.)

Related Topics:
Oregon - Democratic - LaFayette Grover - John Watts - C. A. Cronin

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Facing a constitutional crisis the likes of which the nation had never seen, on January 29, 1877 the U.S. Congress passed a law forming a 15-member Electoral Commission to settle the result. Five members came from each house of the U.S. Congress, and they were joined by five members of the United States Supreme Court. William M. Evarts served as counsel for the Republican Party.

Related Topics:
January 29 - 1877 - U.S. Congress - Electoral Commission - United States Supreme Court - William M. Evarts

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The majority party in each house received three of the five members, and the five Supreme Court justices were chosen as follows: two from each of the major parties and another judge selected by these four to cast the swing vote.

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The justices first selected Justice David Davis, but he was elected to the Senate by Illinois' state legislature, forcing them to choose an alternate, Justice Joseph P. Bradley, who, although a Republican, was considered the most impartial remaining member of the court. This selection proved decisive however, as Bradley joined the other seven Republican committee members in deciding the 20 disputed electoral votes, giving Hayes a 185-184 electoral vote victory.

Related Topics:
David Davis - Illinois - Joseph P. Bradley

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This election was one of the most contentious presidential elections in United States history, and historically more significant than even the U.S. presidential election of 2000. The returns accepted by the Commission placed Hayes' victory margin in South Carolina at 889 votes, making this the second-closest election in U.S. history, after the 2000 election, decided by 537 votes after the Supreme Court's ruling in Bush v. Gore. Interestingly enough, these two elections share many characteristics.

Related Topics:
U.S. presidential election of 2000 - Bush v. Gore

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Members of the Electoral Commission

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Commission MemberAppointed byParty Affiliation

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George Franklin Edmunds (Vermont)SenateRepublican

Related Topics:
George Franklin Edmunds - Republican

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Frederick Theodore Frelinghuysen (New Jersey)SenateRepublican

Related Topics:
Frederick Theodore Frelinghuysen - Republican

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Oliver Hazard Perry Thock Morton (Indiana)SenateRepublican

Related Topics:
Oliver Hazard Perry Thock Morton - Republican

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Thomas Francis Bayard (Delaware)SenateDemocratic

Related Topics:
Thomas Francis Bayard - Democratic

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Allen Granberry Thurman (Ohio)SenateDemocratic

Related Topics:
Allen Granberry Thurman - Democratic

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James Abram Garfield (Ohio)HouseRepublican

Related Topics:
James Abram Garfield - Republican

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George Frisbie Hoar (Massachusetts)HouseRepublican

Related Topics:
George Frisbie Hoar - Republican

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Josiah Gardner Abbott (Massachusetts)HouseDemocratic

Related Topics:
Josiah Gardner Abbott - Democratic

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Eppa Hunton (Virginia)HouseDemocratic

Related Topics:
Eppa Hunton - Democratic

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Henry B. Payne (Ohio)HouseDemocratic

Related Topics:
Henry B. Payne - Democratic

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Nathan Clifford (Maine)Supreme CourtDemocratic

Related Topics:
Nathan Clifford - Democratic

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Stephen Johnson Field (California)Supreme CourtDemocratic

Related Topics:
Stephen Johnson Field - Democratic

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Joseph Philo Bradley (New Jersey)Supreme CourtRepublican

Related Topics:
Joseph Philo Bradley - Republican

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Samuel Freeman Miller (Iowa)Supreme CourtRepublican

Related Topics:
Samuel Freeman Miller - Republican

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William Strong (Pennsylvania)Supreme CourtRepublican

Related Topics:
William Strong - Republican

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Results

(reflecting the Commission's rulings)

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Source (Popular Vote): {{Leip PV source| year=1876| as of=July 27, 2005}}

Related Topics:
July 27 - 2005

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Source (Electoral Vote): {{National Archives EV source| year=1876| as of=July 31, 2005}}

Related Topics:
July 31 - 2005

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