1876 The American Centennial and the First Stolen Election?

By Russ Gifford

1876 was the 100th anniversary of the American Experiment in self-government. It was a heady time for America. The Civil War was in the past. The Industrial Revolution was changing business, with major factories using the benefits of steam power to create massive operations creating goods. These factories needed workers, and the urban population was growing rapidly. Everything was changing as the country celebrated its 100th birthday.

But the election of 1876 would not be a celebration. A nasty dispute over the results of the Electoral College developed when it appeared that Tilden, a New York City Democrat who had won the popular vote had also won the Electoral College.

What, you don’t remember a President Tilden? There is a reason for that: The Republican Party refused to recognize the victory and contested the results in three states - three states where the U.S. Army was still in control of the state government during the era of post-Civil War Reconstruction.

You may not know the story, but the details will sound amazingly familiar. What were the reasons for the protest? Who led the charge? What were the results? And what fallout followed this? And - why don’t we know this story?

Join me for an interesting look back at a little-known moment in American History!