Which of the following events was the most direct cause of the end of Reconstruction?

A. The Long Depression
Incorrect. While the Long Depression was a cause, the most direct cause was the Election of 1876 and the compromise that made Rutherford B. Hayes president in exchange for withdrawing all the troops from the South.

B. The Election of 1876
Correct! The most direct cause was the Election of 1876 and the compromise that made Rutherford B. Hayes president in exchange for withdrawing all the troops from the South.

C. The persistent Southern backlash
Incorrect. While the Southern backlash was a cause, the most direct cause was the Election of 1876 and the compromise that made Rutherford B. Hayes president in exchange for withdrawing all the troops from the South.

D. The Supreme Court declaring Reconstruction unconstitutional
Incorrect. The Supreme Court never made such a ruling. The most direct cause was the Election of 1876 and the compromise that made Rutherford B. Hayes president in exchange for withdrawing all the troops from the South.

Which of the following events was an economic cause for the end of Reconstruction?

A. The Long Depression
Correct! The Long Depression, which ran for most of the 1870s, was an economic reason for the end of Reconstruction.

B. The Election of 1876
Incorrect. The Election of 1876 was a political reason for the end of Reconstruction. The Long Depression was an economic reason.

C. The persistent Southern backlash
Incorrect. The Southern backlash of groups like the KKK was a social reason for the end of Reconstruction. The Long Depression was an economic reason.

D. Northern exhaustion
Incorrect. Northern exhaustion of engaging the South for so long was a social reason for ending Reconstruction. The Long Depression was an economic reason.

The Whiskey Ring, a scandal in which members of the Grant administration stole federal taxes and took bribes, was seen as an abuse of power by the Republicans who were running Reconstruction.

Weariness with the Republicans is an example of what perspective on explaining why Reconstruction ended?

A. Economic
Incorrect. Even though the Whiskey Ring involves money, weariness with the Republicans in government is an example of the political perspective.

B. Social
Incorrect. Weariness with the Republicans in government is an example of the political perspective.

C. Cultural
Incorrect. Weariness with the Republicans in government is an example of the political perspective.

D. Political
Correct! Weariness with the Republicans in government is an example of the political perspective.

Which of the following most benefited from the Compromise of 1877?

A. Samuel Tilden
Incorrect. Tilden lost the presidency through the Compromise of 1877. Southern whites benefited the most from the end of Reconstruction.

B. Southern whites
Correct! Southern whites benefited the most from the end of Reconstruction.

C. African Americans
Incorrect. Southern whites benefited the most from the end of Reconstruction. African Americans probably lost the most.

D. Northern farmers
Incorrect. The end of Reconstruction had no immediate bearing on Northern farmers. Southern whites benefited the most from the end of Reconstruction.