a) The withdrawal of federal troops from the South

The unique feature of the Compromise of 1877, which effectively ended the Reconstruction era, was the agreement to withdraw federal troops from the South. This compromise resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden. In exchange for recognizing Hayes as president, Southern Democrats were assured that federal troops would leave the South, effectively ending the era of Reconstruction. This marked a significant turning point in American history, leading to the restoration of home rule in the South and the end of the federal government’s direct involvement in Southern state affairs.