Rutherford B. Hayes: The 19th President of the United States
johnbowe.info – Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States, served from 1877 to 1881 during a tumultuous period in American history. His presidency was marked by significant controversy, political compromises, and an era of post-Civil War reconstruction. Despite his relatively short time in office, Hayes played a pivotal role in shaping the direction of the nation as it moved away from the Civil War’s aftermath and toward industrialization and modernization.
Early Life and Background
Early Years and Education
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was born on October 4, 1822, in Delaware, Ohio. The son of Rutherford Hayes, a farmer, and Sophia Birchard, Hayes had a privileged upbringing, benefiting from his mother’s strong education and influence. His father, who died before he was born, left the family with little financial support, but Sophia ensured her son received a strong education.
Hayes attended Kenyon College in Ohio, graduating in 1842. His academic success continued at Harvard Law School, where he earned his law degree in 1845. He was admitted to the bar in 1845 and began practicing law in his hometown of Fremont, Ohio.
Military Service in the Civil War
Hayes’ path to public service took a sharp turn when the Civil War broke out in 1861. Despite his initial reluctance to enlist, Hayes ultimately joined the Union Army and served with distinction. He was a major during the conflict and saw combat in several major battles, earning a reputation as a brave and competent leader.
Hayes was wounded multiple times during the war and was promoted to the rank of brevet major general by 1865. His military service not only shaped his character but also garnered him political support after the war. He was a strong advocate for the Union cause, and his service played a key role in establishing his reputation as a man of integrity and commitment.
Political Rise and the Road to the Presidency
State and Congressional Politics
After the Civil War, Hayes turned his attention to politics. He was elected as the governor of Ohio in 1867 and served three non-consecutive terms (1867–1877). During his tenure, Hayes focused on issues such as civil rights for former slaves and government reform.
In 1876, Hayes ran for president as the Republican nominee in one of the most contentious elections in U.S. history. His opponent, Democrat Samuel J. Tilden, had won the popular vote and appeared to have won the electoral college as well. However, a disputed election in several states led to widespread accusations of voter fraud and corruption.
The Controversial 1876 Election
The election of 1876 was one of the most controversial and hotly contested in U.S. history. Tilden won 184 electoral votes, just one shy of the 185 needed for victory. Hayes, on the other hand, had 165 electoral votes, with 20 votes still in dispute in four Southern states—Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Oregon.
The election’s outcome was uncertain, and both sides claimed victory. Amid allegations of electoral fraud, Congress established a 15-member electoral commission to resolve the dispute. The commission, which consisted of eight Republicans, seven Democrats, and one independent, ultimately decided in favor of Hayes, awarding him all 20 contested electoral votes.
The decision was controversial and led to widespread protests, especially among Democrats. Many saw the decision as a political compromise that effectively ended the Reconstruction era in the South.
Presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes
The Compromise of 1877
Hayes’ victory in the 1876 election was made possible by the Compromise of 1877, a political deal between Republicans and Southern Democrats. In exchange for supporting Hayes’ presidency, Republicans agreed to withdraw federal troops from the Southern states, effectively ending Reconstruction.
This compromise was seen by many as a betrayal of the rights and freedoms of African Americans in the South. With the removal of federal troops, Southern states were free to enact discriminatory laws, leading to the establishment of segregation and the rise of white supremacy in the region. While the compromise was seen as a way to restore peace and heal the nation after the Civil War, it also marked the beginning of a long period of racial tension and inequality in the South.
Civil Service Reform and Government Reform
One of Hayes’ most significant accomplishments as president was his commitment to civil service reform. He sought to end the widespread practice of political patronage, which had led to government corruption and inefficiency. In 1877, Hayes signed an executive order that banned federal officeholders from participating in political campaigns, and in 1880, he supported the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, which created a merit-based system for hiring federal employees.
Hayes’ reform efforts earned him praise from reformers but also angered many political machines that had relied on patronage to maintain their power. His commitment to civil service reform was one of the hallmarks of his presidency, and it laid the foundation for future reforms in the federal government.
The End of Reconstruction
As a result of the Compromise of 1877, Hayes was able to end the Reconstruction era. While he had promised to protect the rights of African Americans, his ability to enforce these promises was severely limited without the presence of federal troops in the South. As a result, the withdrawal of troops marked the end of federal efforts to protect the civil rights of former slaves.
The end of Reconstruction allowed Southern states to implement Jim Crow laws that disenfranchised African Americans and segregated them from white society. The federal government, under Hayes’ leadership, largely abandoned its responsibility to enforce civil rights laws in the South, leading to decades of racial discrimination and inequality.
Foreign Policy and International Relations
Hayes’ foreign policy was relatively uneventful compared to his domestic agenda. One notable event during his presidency was the negotiation of a treaty with China to limit Chinese immigration to the United States. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which was passed shortly after Hayes left office, was a response to growing anti-Chinese sentiment in the West.
Hayes also sought to improve relations with Latin American countries, particularly in the context of trade and economic cooperation. However, his foreign policy was generally overshadowed by the political challenges and domestic issues he faced during his presidency.
The Legacy of Rutherford B. Hayes
A Controversial Presidency
Rutherford B. Hayes’ presidency was marked by political controversy, particularly surrounding the disputed 1876 election and the Compromise of 1877. While he is often praised for his efforts at civil service reform and his commitment to integrity in government, his presidency is also viewed critically for its failure to address the lingering racial issues in the South after the Civil War.
Hayes’ decision to end Reconstruction and withdraw federal troops from the South is often seen as a betrayal of African Americans and a missed opportunity to secure civil rights for former slaves. The political compromise that made Hayes president also paved the way for the rise of segregation and the disenfranchisement of African Americans in the South.
Reform and Government Accountability
Despite the controversy, Hayes’ commitment to reform and good governance is one of the most enduring aspects of his legacy. His efforts to reduce political corruption through civil service reform helped lay the foundation for future progress in creating a more efficient and accountable federal government.
Hayes’ presidency also marked a transition from the Reconstruction era to the Gilded Age, a period of rapid industrialization, economic growth, and social change. Although he was not able to achieve all of his goals, his presidency reflected the challenges faced by a nation recovering from a bloody civil war and navigating the complexities of a rapidly changing world.
Conclusion
Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States, remains one of the more controversial figures in American history. While he made important strides in civil service reform and sought to end government corruption, his presidency is often remembered for its role in ending Reconstruction and allowing the South to implement discriminatory laws that would impact African Americans for generations to come.
His presidency serves as a reminder of the challenges of reconciling the nation’s divisions after the Civil War and the difficult compromises that were made during this time of transition. Although Hayes was not able to fulfill all of his lofty promises, his legacy as a reformer and his commitment to integrity continue to shape his place in American history.
