Presidents, 1877-1881
Rutherford B. Hayes intended for his administration to be a time of healing following the hatred of the Civil War, the bitterness of Reconstruction and the rank corruption of the Grant years. The president was successful in ending reconstruction, raising the issue of civil service reform, staving off the inflationary financial proposals of the Democrats, combating Congressional effort to restrict black rights, and easing tensions in foreign affairs. Hayes, however, offended many by his handling of a railroad strike.
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