James A. GarfieldJames A. Garfield

2020thth President of President of the United States the United States of Americaof America

Presidential Term: Presidential Term: March 4, 1881 - March 4, 1881 - September 19, September 19, 18811881

Background/FamilyBackground/Family

Born in a log cabin in Orange, Cuyahoga County, Ohio on November 19, 1831.Born in a log cabin in Orange, Cuyahoga County, Ohio on November 19, 1831. His father, Abram Garfield died & his mother, Eliza Ballou, had to raise their His father, Abram Garfield died & his mother, Eliza Ballou, had to raise their

family by herself.family by herself. From 1851 - 1854, he attended the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute in Hiram, From 1851 - 1854, he attended the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute in Hiram,

Ohio. He transferred to Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts & Ohio. He transferred to Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts & graduated in 1856. graduated in 1856.

On November 11, 1858, he married Lucretia Rudolph. They had seven children On November 11, 1858, he married Lucretia Rudolph. They had seven children (five sons and two daughters)(five sons and two daughters)

Political Rise to Political Rise to PresidencyPresidency

With the start of the Civil War, With the start of the Civil War, Garfield enlisted in the Union Garfield enlisted in the Union Army, and was assigned to Army, and was assigned to command the 42nd Ohio command the 42nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Volunteer Infantry.

On October 1862, he was elected On October 1862, he was elected by the Republicans to the United by the Republicans to the United States House of Representatives States House of Representatives for Ohio's 19th Congressional for Ohio's 19th Congressional District in the 38th Congress.District in the 38th Congress.

In 1876, when James G. Blaine In 1876, when James G. Blaine moved from the House to the moved from the House to the United States Senate, Garfield United States Senate, Garfield became the Republican floor became the Republican floor leader of the House.leader of the House.

PIRATES: PoliticalPIRATES: Political Garfield decided that the academic life was not for him and Garfield decided that the academic life was not for him and

studied law privately. He was a Republican all his political life.studied law privately. He was a Republican all his political life. James Garfield had never separated from his Republican ideals. James Garfield had never separated from his Republican ideals.

Unlike Lincoln, Grant, and Hayes, Garfield had not merely been Unlike Lincoln, Grant, and Hayes, Garfield had not merely been opposed to slavery, but had been an abolitionist, believing that opposed to slavery, but had been an abolitionist, believing that force in the Civil War was necessary not only to preserve the force in the Civil War was necessary not only to preserve the union, but to end slavery. union, but to end slavery.

PIRATES: IntellectualPIRATES: Intellectual The intellectual prowess of James The intellectual prowess of James

Garfield is often overlooked as a Garfield is often overlooked as a result of his short tenure in office.result of his short tenure in office.

By the time he was fourteen, By the time he was fourteen, young Garfield was fairly young Garfield was fairly knowledgeable in arithmetic and knowledgeable in arithmetic and grammar and was particularly grammar and was particularly interested in the facts of American interested in the facts of American history, having eagerly gathered history, having eagerly gathered information from the meager information from the meager treaties that circulated in that treaties that circulated in that remote section of Ohio. In fact, he remote section of Ohio. In fact, he read and reread every book the read and reread every book the scanty libraries of his part of the scanty libraries of his part of the wilderness supplied, and many he wilderness supplied, and many he learned by heart. The tales of the learned by heart. The tales of the sea especially thrilled Garfield and sea especially thrilled Garfield and a love for adventure took over him. a love for adventure took over him.

PIRATES: ReligiousPIRATES: Religious

He was a Disciple of He was a Disciple of Christ. In his early Christ. In his early adulthood, Garfield adulthood, Garfield sometimes preached and sometimes preached and held revival meetings. held revival meetings.

PIRATES: Arts/CulturalPIRATES: Arts/Cultural Garfield's assassination is Garfield's assassination is

mentioned in the Johnny Cash mentioned in the Johnny Cash tune, "Mister Garfield (Has Been tune, "Mister Garfield (Has Been Shot Down)" Shot Down)"

Garfield Monument in Garfield Monument in Washington, D.C. (picture)Washington, D.C. (picture)

The cartoon cat Garfield is named The cartoon cat Garfield is named for artist Jim Davis' grandfather for artist Jim Davis' grandfather James A. Garfield Davis, who in James A. Garfield Davis, who in turn was named for president turn was named for president Garfield. Garfield.

Garfield Monument

PIRATES: TechnologyPIRATES: Technology

James Garfield was James Garfield was the Ohio the Ohio representative representative during the during the reconstruction of the reconstruction of the Transcontinental Transcontinental Railroad.Railroad.

PIRATES: EconomicalPIRATES: Economical

Scandal almost ruined Scandal almost ruined Garfield's career when he Garfield's career when he was accused of accepting was accused of accepting money in return for money in return for supporting a congressional supporting a congressional funding of the funding of the transcontinental railroad's transcontinental railroad's construction company. construction company.

He managed to survive the He managed to survive the accusation by saying he had accusation by saying he had accepted a legal fee from a accepted a legal fee from a company involved in company involved in government-contracted government-contracted improvement of Washington improvement of Washington streets. streets.

PIRATES: SocialPIRATES: Social

Garfield was born in a log cabin so he was not Garfield was born in a log cabin so he was not born into a high economic status but worked his born into a high economic status but worked his way up the success ladder by going to way up the success ladder by going to Hiram Hiram College, & Williams College. He became senator of College, & Williams College. He became senator of Ohio, General during the Civil War, and eventually Ohio, General during the Civil War, and eventually president of the United States. president of the United States.

Key Domestic Policy Key Domestic Policy Issues:Issues:

The Spoils System, initially The Spoils System, initially advocated by Andrew Jackson, advocated by Andrew Jackson, was in full swing. was in full swing.

The Republican party experienced The Republican party experienced a mild split into the "stalwarts" a mild split into the "stalwarts" and the "half breeds." The and the "half breeds." The stalwarts believed in the spoils stalwarts believed in the spoils system, while the half breeds system, while the half breeds debated the morals in debated the morals in government.government.

During the 1880 convention, the During the 1880 convention, the Republicans nominated James A. Republicans nominated James A. Garfield, a half-breed, for Garfield, a half-breed, for president, and Chester A. Arthur, president, and Chester A. Arthur, a stalwart, for vice-president to a stalwart, for vice-president to balance their ticket. balance their ticket.

Key Foreign Policy Key Foreign Policy Issues:Issues:

James A. Garfield's foreign James A. Garfield's foreign policy activities were limited to policy activities were limited to filling vacant diplomatic filling vacant diplomatic positions. Most notably was his positions. Most notably was his appointments of writer James appointments of writer James Russell Lowell as U.S. minister Russell Lowell as U.S. minister to England & Lew Wallace, a to England & Lew Wallace, a former Union general & popular former Union general & popular writer, to the post in Turkey. writer, to the post in Turkey.

During Garfield's short term in During Garfield's short term in office, Secretary of State Blaine office, Secretary of State Blaine was so involved with patronage was so involved with patronage matters that he had little time matters that he had little time to deal with Latin American to deal with Latin American affairs, the Chinese immigration affairs, the Chinese immigration issue, or fishing disputes with issue, or fishing disputes with the British in the Pacific. the British in the Pacific.

Russell Russell LowellLowell

Secretary of Secretary of State BlaineState Blaine

Quote:Quote: ““By the experience of commercial nations in all ages it has been By the experience of commercial nations in all ages it has been

found that gold and silver afford the only safe foundation for a found that gold and silver afford the only safe foundation for a monetary system. Confusion has recently been created by monetary system. Confusion has recently been created by variations in the relative value of the two metals, but I confidently variations in the relative value of the two metals, but I confidently believe that arrangements can be made between the leading believe that arrangements can be made between the leading commercial nations which will secure the general use of both commercial nations which will secure the general use of both metals.”metals.”

Political Cartoon:Political Cartoon:

This cartoon shows Garfield finding a baby at his front door with a tag marked "Civil Service Reform, compliments of R.B.

Hayes". Hayes is in the background dressed like a woman & holding a bag marked "R.B. Hayes' Savings”

- Successes/Failures: - Successes/Failures:

Ohio Ohio RepresentativeRepresentative

2020thth President of President of the United States the United States of America.of America.

Coming after the Coming after the reverses at Big reverses at Big Bethel, Bull Run, and Bethel, Bull Run, and the disastrous the disastrous failures in Missouri, failures in Missouri, General Garfield's General Garfield's triumph over the triumph over the Confederate forces at Confederate forces at Middle Creek had an Middle Creek had an encouraging effect on encouraging effect on the entire north. the entire north.

Battle of Bull

Run

““One Word”One Word”

ForgottenForgotten

        Garfield is often forgotten among the Presidents of the Garfield is often forgotten among the Presidents of the United States - surely a result of the fact that he served in United States - surely a result of the fact that he served in this capacity for only six months - the second shortest ever this capacity for only six months - the second shortest ever

served by a President.served by a President.         His life prior to his short time in office, however,          His life prior to his short time in office, however, certainly deserves mention, as he showed himself to be certainly deserves mention, as he showed himself to be

both hard working and capable in all he did.both hard working and capable in all he did.         

Impact on Current Impact on Current Events:Events:

Murdered within months of Murdered within months of his inauguration, Garfield his inauguration, Garfield served as President too served as President too briefly for him to have left briefly for him to have left much of an impact. His much of an impact. His reputation is remembered as reputation is remembered as a martyr above all else, as a martyr above all else, as one who truly gave his life one who truly gave his life for his nation. for his nation.

Also, because of his short Also, because of his short presidency its difficult to presidency its difficult to determine wither he would determine wither he would have been successful at have been successful at running for president today. running for president today.

Cabinet Members:Cabinet Members:

Vice President: Chester A. ArthurVice President: Chester A. Arthur Secretary of State: James G. BlaineSecretary of State: James G. Blaine

Secretary of Treasury: William WindomSecretary of Treasury: William Windom Secretary of War: Robert Todd LincolnSecretary of War: Robert Todd Lincoln

Attorney General: Wayne MacVeaghAttorney General: Wayne MacVeagh Postmaster General: Thomas L. JamesPostmaster General: Thomas L. James

Secretary of the Navy: William H. HuntSecretary of the Navy: William H. Hunt Secretary of the Interior: Samuel J. KirkwoodSecretary of the Interior: Samuel J. Kirkwood

Post-Presidential Post-Presidential Activities:Activities:

Garfield was shot by Charles J. Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau on September 19, Guiteau on September 19, 1881. as he was walking 1881. as he was walking through the Sixth Street through the Sixth Street Station of the Baltimore & Station of the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad. Potomac Railroad.

Guiteau was upset because he Guiteau was upset because he was denied being appointed as was denied being appointed as the United States consul in the United States consul in Paris. Paris.

After Garfield died, his After Garfield died, his successor enacted the successor enacted the Pendleton Act, which Pendleton Act, which dismantled the spoils system in dismantled the spoils system in favor of bureaucracy of merit. favor of bureaucracy of merit.

Charles J. Charles J. GuiteauGuiteau

Bibliography:Bibliography: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jamesgarfieldhttp://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jamesgarfield

http://www.usa-presidents.info/garfield.htmhttp://www.usa-presidents.info/garfield.htm

http://www.google.com/search?http://www.google.com/search?q=james+garfield&hl=en&client=firefox-q=james+garfield&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=1t5&tbs=tl:1&tbo=u&ei=rLtjS4ubEIv2sQUS:official&hs=1t5&tbs=tl:1&tbo=u&ei=rLtjS4ubEIv2sQP_ttWdAw&sa=X&oi=timeline_result&ct=title&resnum=1P_ttWdAw&sa=X&oi=timeline_result&ct=title&resnum=19&ved=0CD8Q5wIwEg9&ved=0CD8Q5wIwEg

http://www.potus.com/jagarfield.html http://www.potus.com/jagarfield.html

http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=20president.asp?PresidentNumber=20

Team Members:Team Members:

Magaly Orozco & Elizabeth Magaly Orozco & Elizabeth GonzalezGonzalez

AP US HistoryAP US History

period 1period 1