The electoral crisis of 1876 and the subsequent end to Reconstruction in 1877 convinced many observers that the election of 1880 would give the Democrats their best chance at victory in a generation.
Valgkrisen i 1876 og den efterfølgende afslutning på Rekonstruktionsperioden i 1877 overbeviste mange iagttagere om at valget i 1880 ville give Demokraterne den bedste mulighed for at vinde i meget lang tid.