What event marked the official end of Reconstruction?

The election of 1876 is recognized as the event that marked the official end of Reconstruction due to the political compromise that resulted from it. This election was highly contested between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden. The outcome was disputed, leading to significant negotiations among political leaders.

As part of the Compromise of 1877, which emerged from the election's resolution, Democrats agreed to concede the presidency to Hayes in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from the South. This withdrawal signified the end of federal efforts to enforce Reconstruction policies and protect the rights of African Americans in the Southern states. The Compromise effectively returned control of Southern states to white Democrats, who then enacted laws that reversed many advancements made during Reconstruction, thus solidifying the end of the Reconstruction era.

The other options, while significant events in U.S. history, did not directly mark the end of Reconstruction. The passage of the 15th Amendment granted African American men the right to vote but did not resolve the political conflicts or enforcement issues in the South. The end of the Civil War was a precursor to Reconstruction, establishing the need for the policies that the Reconstruction era would introduce. The impeachment of Andrew Johnson occurred during Reconstruction and highlighted the political struggles of the