President James A Garfield 20 th President Republican

President James A. Garfield 20 th President *Republican* *1881 * Born: Nov 19, 1831, Ohio VP: Chester Arthur Died: Sept 19, 1881, NJ

I. Politics under Garfield

A. Political Parties of the Gilded Age Democratic Republican Bloc « White southerners (preservation of white supremacy) « Northern whites (pro-business) « Catholics « Northern Protestants « Recent immigrants (esp. Jews) « Urban working poor (pro-labor) « Most farmers « African Americans « Old WASPs (support for anti-immigrant laws) « Most of the middle class

B. Problems within the Republican Party ü Quick review from last class… Civil Service = public service jobs that are appointed instead of elected ü Remember: Because of the “Spoils System” , some people involved in public service/politics were not qualified for their jobs… During the late 1800’s, many sought to reform this process.

(1) Election of 1880 Facts: 1. Because of differences over civil service reform, the Republican party split into two factions: a. Stalwarts: (Arthur) conservative Republicans who opposed Civil Service Reform b. Half-breeds: (Garfield) moderate faction of Republicans who supported Civil Service Reform (which began under Rutherford B. Hayes) 2. This split caused confusion over who to choose as the presidential candidate in 1880!

D. Republicans and the 1880 Election Half Breeds Sen. James G. Blaine (Maine) ct! li Conf Stalwarts Sen. Roscoe Conkling (New York) Compromise! James A. Garfield Chester A. Arthur (VP)

C. Presidential Election of 1880 1. Incumbent (current holder of office) president Rutherford B. Hayes planned to retire at the end of one term, which opened wide the door of opportunity! 2. Candidates for the Election of 1880: (1 cont) a. Democrat: Winfield S. Hanfield (P) William English (VP) VS. b. Republican: James Garfield (P) Chester A. Aurthur (VP)

E. Issues of the Election of 1880 1. Only the tariff question divided the parties ***Tariff = tax on imported goods, used primarily to protect young American industries a. Democrats: Supported tariff for revenue only (what would pay for the cost of gov’t) b. Republicans: Supported a high tariff to help protect industry in the North (make Americans buy American products!!!)

Election Results Solid South: term which describes the voting bloc of the South from 1876 to 1960

Excerpt from Inaugural Address of 1881 “The elevation of the negro race from slavery to the full rights of citizenship is the most important political change we have known since the adoption of the Constitution of 1787… It has freed us from the perpetual danger of war and dissolution. It has added immensely to the moral and industrial forces of our people. It has liberated the master as well as the slave from a relation which wronged and enfeebled both… It has given new inspiration to the power of self-help in both races by making labor more honorable to the one and more necessary to the other. The influence of this force will grow greater and bear richer fruit with the coming years. ”

What does that excerpt from Garfield’s first speech as President tell us about him? ? ?

II. Economics under Garfield

A. (2) Several different economic theories began circulating the nation: 1. Capitalism: an economic system based on private ownership of the means of production and distribution. *encourages private investment and business in contrast to a government-controlled economy. 2. Communism: No private ownership! Property and the production of goods are owned collectively by the community.

3. Social Darwinism a. Applying Darwin’s theory of evolution, Social Darwinists claimed that business competition was natural and would weed out the “unfit” businesses/businessmen. (The strong businesses would survive and the weak would fail. ) b. In their viewpoint, the poor should not be helped; nature should take its course.

B. (3) Big business started getting out of control!!! 1. Corporation: a type of business organization that raises money by selling shares of stock in the company. (Stockholders receive part of the profit of the company in return for their investment. ) 2. Trust: the combination of several corporations under the management of a common board of trustees. 3. Monopoly: the exclusive possession or control of an industry by one business/trust/owner.

III. Social aspects of Garfield’s presidency

A. Social Gospel (4) 1. During the late 1800’s and on into the 20 th century, people began protesting the way of life forced upon the financially misfortunate Americans. 2. One result of this was a new movement known as (4) Social Gospel, which urged people to apply Christian principles (remember, America was predominantly Christian at this point) to the country’s social problems. 3. Many churches began providing social services such as job training and education.

4. In that same spirit, we have the foundation of the Salvation Army (5) a. Started in Great Britain by William Booth - came to the US in 1881. b. This organization inspired many muchneeded services, in this GILDED country including women's social work, the first food depot, the first day nursery, and the first Army missionary hospital.

B. Gov’t vs. Native Americans 1. The government continued their policy of rounding up the Native Americans and sending them to reservations. 2. While most of the nation’s citizens agreed with the government’s treatment of the Native Americans, there were some who spoke out against this practice.

(6) Helen Hunt Jackson was one of the first authors to draw attention to the mistreatment of the Indians through her book A Century of Dishonor. a. Far-reaching in its influence, the book created quite a stir amongst the American public. Many were outraged by her stance of criticizing the government!

b. Her book outlined the U. S. government's habit of violating treaties and disregarding the rights of various Indian tribes across the United States.

nd III. The 2 Presidential Assassination

(7) At July 2, 1881, 9: 30 a. m. , in a Washington D. C. train station, -Charles J. Guiteau shot President Garfield 1. Guiteau stalked the president for weeks and had backed down three previous times. 2. Fired a. 44 British Bulldog at the back of the president in the waiting room of the railway station. *2 shots: one grazed the arm, one entered his back

***Random info*** Alexander Graham Bell invented a metal-detecting device he thought would find the bullet in Garfield’s body. The results of the experiment were inconclusive as there was a humming sound no matter where the wand was placed on the president’s body. Bell was unaware that the White House bed had a coil spring mattress (a new invention). If Bell had moved Garfield off the bed, the apparatus would have detected where the bullet was and, knowing this, the surgeons may have saved Garfield’s life.

B. Garfield’s Death 1. The bullet didn’t kill him- the doctors did!!! (Doctors stuck their un-sanitized fingers and unsterilized instruments into the open wound. ) 2. In the end, the doctors had taken a three-inch wound and turned it into a twenty-inch gouge that was massively infected. On September 15, 1881, symptoms of blood poisoning appeared. On September 19, 1881 after a few hours of unconsciousness, he died.

3. At the autopsy, examiners determined that the bullet had lodged itself some four inches from the spine in a protective cyst. Their conclusion? Garfield would have survived if the doctors had left him alone!!! (At his trial, Guiteau argued that he did not kill the President – the doctors did. That argument might get you off today but not in the 1880's. ) 4. Guiteau was hanged a year later.

Why did Guiteau shoot the President? “His death was a political necessity. ” “It will unite the Republican party. ” ~Guiteau – written on the morning of the assassination 1. WHY? ? Guiteau wanted civil service reform to end! (he like the old fashioned Spoils Systemfriends get you jobs whether you are qualified or not!) 2. He will be classified as a disappointed office seeker – yep, he was crazy!

D. How does history see Garfield? He was only in office 4 months, but… 1. Garfield did have time to appoint his cabinet, and in doing so, he refused to cave in to party politics. Historians speculate that had Garfield served his term, he would have continued toward civil service reform, carrying on in the honorable legacy of Hayes. 2. He was also determined to fight for the civil rights of black Southerners, as he made clear in his 1881 Inaugural address- STILL 16 years after the end of the Civil War- 4 years after the end of Reconstruction.