Rachel Shelden

Rachel Shelden, an Associate Professor of History at Penn State and expert on 19th-century US political history, dives into the chaotic presidential election of 1876. She discusses how the political system managed to prevent widespread violence and navigate electoral disputes. Key topics include Abraham Lincoln's influence on youth in Illinois, the role of Reconstruction, and the controversial outcomes involving Hayes and Tilden. Shelden emphasizes the lessons from this tumultuous period, especially regarding election security and the importance of public trust in democracy.