Evening Conversation: The Election of 1876 and the End of Reconstruction

The Election of 1876 and the Collapse of Reconstruction

The election of 1876 stands as one of the most disputed elections in U.S. history and the result was the beginning of one of darkest chapters in our national story. In that election Democrat Samuel Tilden, then Governor of New York, received the majority of the popular vote over Ohio Governor, Republican Rutherford B. Hayes. However, Governor Tilden was one electoral vote short of the 185 required to win. In three states, Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina, both parties reported that their candidates had won. The electors in those states numbered 20. Republicans made a deal with the Democrats to remove Federal troops from the South, ending Reconstruction. In exchange, the Democrats agreed to award the 20 disputed electoral votes to Hayes, making him the 19th President of the United States. The result immediately signified Reconstruction's downfall and ultimately produced a new system of white supremacy and black subordination in the South. 

Dr. Raymond Krohn will present the history of this election and the end of Reconstruction in a Small Group Conversation.  Following his presentation, members will have an opportunity to engage in the conversation, ask questions, and provide input.  The program will also be live streamed to a virtual audience. 

Raymond Krohn, Ph.D., is a member of the Department of History at Boise State University where he teaches 18th, 19th and early 20th century history and specializes in histories of slavery, abolitionism and social reform movements, as well as constitutional, political, intellectual and cultural history.  As an educator, he seeks to demonstrate why the past matters.  Dr. Krohn received his Ph.D. in history from Purdue University. His forthcoming book concentrates on veteran abolitionists as movement historians and examines their racial justice commitments after slavery's destruction in the United States.

Moderator: City Club board member Darwin Roy.

Time: 6:30  PM -8:00 PM

Location: Boise State Radio Community Room ,220 E. Parkcenter Blvd Boise, Idaho 83706 (Yanke Family Research Park)

PARKING: Permits are required and will be provided via email to each registrant.

Event Cost:

In-person attendees: $15 City Club members // $20 non-members

Virtual attendees:  $5 City Club members // $8 non-members

City Club thanks our Premier Sponsor, Northwest Nazarene University and the NNU College of Business, our Annual Sponsor University of Idaho, Boise, and the 2021 Forum Series sponsors: AARP of Idaho, Bank of Idaho, Clima-Tech Corporation, Echelon Group, Micron, PacificSource Health Plans, Small Mine Development, and St. Luke's. We are pleased to welcome university students to attend our events thanks to our University partners Boise State University and Northwest Nazarene University. Our media partners include Boise State Public Radio, 670 KBOI, Idaho Public Television and the Idaho Statesman. This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Idaho Humanities Council, the state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

If you have any questions, call 208-364-4614 and staff can assist you.