Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

Which group was primarily affected by the Compromise of 1877?

1. Reconstruction-era governments in Southern states

2. Native American populations

3. Labor unions in the North

4. Women's rights activists

The correct answer is: Reconstruction-era governments in Southern states

The Compromise of 1877 primarily affected Reconstruction-era governments in Southern states because it marked the end of Reconstruction and led to the withdrawal of federal troops from the South. This compromise was an agreement that resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election, with the Republican Party agreeing to withdraw support for Republican-led governments in the South in exchange for the Democrats allowing Rutherford B. Hayes to assume the presidency. As a result of this compromise, Democrats regained control of Southern state governments, which led to the implementation of Jim Crow laws and the disenfranchisement of African American voters. The political dynamics in the South shifted dramatically as federal oversight was removed, impacting education, civil rights, and social services that had been established during Reconstruction. By restoring white supremacy in the South, the compromise effectively ended the political gains made by African Americans during the Reconstruction period and ushered in decades of segregation and discrimination. Other groups mentioned, like Native Americans, labor unions, and women's rights activists, were certainly affected by various aspects of American history during this period but were not the primary focus or beneficiaries of the Compromise of 1877.