Primary Source Spotlight: 1876 Contested Presidential Election

From America’s Library

On the night of the 1876 presidential election, Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes went to bed early. He assumed that he had lost the election to his opponent, Democrat Samuel J. Tilden. Tilden did win the popular vote that night, but the Republicans challenged the validity of the electoral votes from three states. (Under the Electoral College, each state chooses electors to vote for the president.) A candidate must win the electoral vote to become president.

Congress appointed a special Electoral Commission to make a decision on the matter. The commission was made up of five senators, five members of the House of Representatives, and five Supreme Court justices. In the end, the commission determined that Hayes was elected president by a margin of one electoral vote.

Centennial election. The republican nominees

National Republican chart 1876

Republican star campaign song

Rutherford B. Hayes Campaign Song

“Hayes the True and Wheeler, Too!”

Roll along, roll along, shout the campaign battle song

Carnival of blood! Republicans to be massacred at the polls! Secret Democratic circular

A Hayes Indiana election ballot

A certificate for the electoral vote for Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler for the State of Louisiana

Washington, D.C.–the Electoral Commission holding a secret session by candle-light, on the Louisiana question, February 16th

Ten white men and two Negroes who defrauded the American people out of their choice for president in 1876

The political farce of 1876

A truce – not a compromise, but a chance for high-toned gentlemen to retire gracefully from their very civil declarations of war

Select historical newspaper articles

“Suspense, Possibly Tilden, Hopefully, Hayes,” National Republican. (Washington City, D.C.) November 8, 1876.
“Glorious News!” National Republican. (Washington City, D.C.) November 9, 1876.
“Hallelujah! Now You Can Crow! The Republican Party is Dead!” The Louisiana Democrat. (Alexandria, La.) November 15, 1876.
“Counting the Electoral Votes,” The Iola Register. (Iola, Kan.) January 27, 1877.
“The President Signs the Electoral Bill,” The Morning Star and Catholic Messenger. (New Orleans, La.) February 4, 1877.
“The Battle for Power,” National Republican. (Washington City, D.C.) February 12, 1877.
“The Agony Over! Hayes Elected President,” National Republican. (Washington City, D.C.) March 2, 1877.