The Civil War was over and the period of Reconstruction was underway the government's plan to support reconstruction seemed to be having a positive effect for newly freed Blacks in the South. This positive effect was mainly due to Federal Troops occupying the Southern States in order to enforce the policies of Reconstruction. The presidential election of 1876 pitted Republican Rutherford B. Hayes against Democrat Samuel J. Tilden. The election results were highly contested and the Presidency was ultimately awarded to Hayes through the Compromise of 1877. One of the key points of the compromise was the withdrawal of all Federal Troops from the Southern states. Without the Troops presence to enforce the Reconstruction Policies, Reconstruction was doomed to failure.

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