The Country's Waiting Game: Thomas Nast Illustrates the Months After the 1876 Election

The political situation in the United States has always been dynamic. The Presidential Election of 1876 pitting the Democrat Samuel J. Tilden (1814-1886) against the Republican Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893) was no different. The campaign was tough for both candidates, but the real battle began after Election Day on November 7, 1876. The winner would not be named for almost four months after Election Day. The vote of the Electoral Commission was finally approved in the early hours of the morning on March 2, 1877. Rutherford B. Hayes was declared the President Elect just two days before inauguration. This research kit explores and answers the following questions: How can political cartoons be used for understanding the aftermath of the 1876 election? What role does compromise play in politics? What role do artists play in politics and elections?