The presidential election of 1876 between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden was one of the most contentious electoral contests in American history. Tilden, a Democrat, had garnered a clear majority of the popular vote and was initially thought to have won the election. However, disputes over the electoral votes from four states—Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Oregon—created a political deadlock. Each side accused the other of voter manipulation and fraud, underscoring the tensions of the Reconstruction era following the Civil War.

To resolve the impasse, Congress established a bipartisan Electoral Commission consisting of fifteen members, five each from the House, Senate, and Supreme Court. The Commission's deliberations were marked by intense political maneuvering and significant pressure from both parties. Ultimately, the Commission awarded the contested electoral votes to Hayes, resulting in a 185-184 vote in the electoral college. Amidst this turbulent backdrop, a deal was struck known as the Compromise of 1877, facilitating Hayes’s inauguration in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, thus effectively ending Reconstruction.

The decision on March 2 reaffirmed a deeply divided political landscape as the nation grappled with issues of race, governance, and the legacy of the Civil War. Despite the questionable legitimacy of Hayes's victory, he served as president from 1877 to 1881, and his administration focused on civil service reform and restoring trust in government, shaping policies that would influence the future trajectory of American politics.