What were the components of the Compromise of 1877?What governmental groups and individuals were involved, etc? Be sure to include all relevant...

The Compromise of 1877 is considered the formal end of
Reconstruction.  The Presidential election of 1876 was between Republican Rutherford B.
Hayes and Samuel Tilden, a famous prosecutor from New York City who had brought down
Boss Tweed.

Only Republicans had won since Lincoln was
elected and the Civil War split the Democratic Party.  Hayes, in this case, was a pretty
weak candidate, so the party pulled some strings and cheated him into office.  The
soldiers who were running the elections in four southern states changed the electoral
results so that Hayes would win by one vote.  The problem was, everyone knew it.  It was
obvious.

There was a stalemate and weeks went by with no
one knowing who the real President would be.

So the final
agreement went as follows:

1) Hayes would get to be
President, even though he cheated

2) A southerner would be
on Hayes' Cabinet

3) A railroad would be constructed across
the South

4) Most importantly, Union troops would leave the
Southern states

This meant that the Civil War amendments
could not be enforced, freed slaves could not be protected, and Reconstruction
effectively ends.

Hayes was very ineffective as President,
since everyone knew he cheated.  A newspaper headline after the Compromise read: "Hail
to the Thief" instead of Hail to the Chief.