Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam 2026 - Free AP US History Practice Questions and Study Guide

The Compromise of 1877 was a pivotal moment in American history that marked the end of Reconstruction following the Civil War. The significant outcome of this compromise was that Rutherford B. Hayes was awarded the presidency in exchange for withdrawing federal troops from the South. This arrangement came about after a highly contested election in 1876, where Hayes, a Republican, faced off against Samuel J. Tilden, a Democrat.

The withdrawal of federal troops led to the collapse of the remaining Republican governments in the Southern states, effectively ending the Reconstruction era. This shift allowed Southern states to regain control and implement laws that would disenfranchise African American voters and reinforce white supremacy, leading to the establishment of Jim Crow laws.

In contrast, other options do not accurately reflect the Compromise of 1877. Federal troops were not sent to the South as a result, but rather removed, and Reconstruction policies were not intensified; they were effectively dismantled. The 15th Amendment, which prohibits the denial of voting rights on account of race, was already ratified in 1870 and was not a direct outcome of the Compromise. Therefore, the option regarding Hayes being awarded the presidency in exchange for withdrawing troops encapsulates the essence and consequences of the Compromise