1876 Republican National Convention

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1876 {{{party}}} National Convention

Convention
Date(s)	June 14–16, 1876
City	Cincinnati, Ohio
Venue	Exposition Hall
Chair
Keynote speaker
Notable speakers
Presidential nominee	Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio
Vice presidential nominee	William A. Wheeler of New York

The 1876 Republican National Convention was a presidential nominating convention held at Exposition Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio, from June 14 to June 16, 1876. The convention resulted in the nomination of Rutherford B. Hayes for President and William A. Wheeler for Vice President.

Background

The 1876 convention was held during a period of significant political and social change in the United States. The country was still recovering from the effects of the American Civil War and the subsequent Reconstruction era. The Republican Party was seeking to maintain its dominance in national politics, having held the presidency since the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860.

Candidates

Several prominent Republicans were considered for the presidential nomination, including:

• James G. Blaine of Maine
• Benjamin Bristow of Kentucky
• Roscoe Conkling of New York
• Oliver P. Morton of Indiana
• Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio
• John F. Hartranft of Pennsylvania

After seven ballots, Rutherford B. Hayes emerged as the nominee, largely due to his reputation for honesty and reform.

Vice Presidential Nomination

The vice presidential nomination was less contested. William A. Wheeler of New York was chosen on the first ballot. Wheeler was a relatively obscure figure, but he was respected for his integrity and legislative experience.

Platform

The platform adopted by the convention emphasized the following key points:

• Continued support for Reconstruction policies
• Civil service reform
• Reduction of the national debt
• Support for the rights of African Americans

Convention Highlights

The 1876 convention was notable for its intense political maneuvering and the presence of many influential party leaders. The selection of Hayes was seen as a compromise, as he was not the first choice of many delegates but was acceptable to a broad coalition within the party.

Related Pages

• Rutherford B. Hayes
• William A. Wheeler
• Republican Party (United States)
• 1876 United States presidential election
• Reconstruction era
• James G. Blaine
• Benjamin Bristow
• Roscoe Conkling
• Oliver P. Morton
• John F. Hartranft