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Primary sourceSpeech5 March 1877

Inaugural Address of Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford B. Hayes · 5 March 1877

The speech Hayes delivered on March 5, 1877, laying out his principles for his presidency, including ending federal Reconstruction in the South.

This is Hayes's own inaugural address, delivered by him as president, setting out the policies of his administration.

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About this source

What it is

This is the text of the inaugural address given by Rutherford B. Hayes on March 5, 1877, when he took the oath of office as President of the United States. The speech is held by the Library of Congress.

In it, Hayes announced the principles he intended to follow as president, including promises about civil service reform and what he called "local self-government" for the Southern states.

Why it matters

Hayes's promise of "local self-government" signaled that the federal government would stop enforcing Reconstruction policies in the South, a major turning point in post-Civil War American history. The speech shows how a new president used ceremonial words to set the direction of his administration after one of the most disputed elections in U.S. history.

Look closer

  • Why might Hayes choose the phrase "local self-government" instead of saying plainly what he meant?
  • What does the speech leave out about the people most affected by the end of Reconstruction?
  • How does Hayes try to sound unifying after such a contested election?

This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Rutherford B. Hayes on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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