President James Garfield James Garfield was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio on November 19, 1831. At this time in history, although Ohio was a state it was still frontier territory. His father died when Garfield was an infant and Garfield helped his mother work the family farm near Cleveland with his two siblings. At age sixteen he left home to work on the canal boats but found he was not suited to life as a sailor. History claims that he fell overboard fourteen times in the six weeks he spent on the canal. He returned home to recuperate after becoming ill from his journeys. Determined by this experience with manual labor to become educated, Garfield worked part-time and attended Geauga Academy in Chester, Ohio and then studied at the Eclectic Institute in Hiram, Ohio where he worked as the school janitor. While at the Institute he met his future wife, Lucretia Rudolf. He then enrolled at Williams College in Massachusetts, graduating with honors in 1856. Returning to the Institute as an instructor, he eventually became the president, serving in that capacity from 1857 until 1861. He married Lucretia Rudolf in 1858 and also passed the bar exam in 1861. While not active in politics at this time, Garfield was an abolitionist who opposed the extension of slavery into the new western territories. At the outset of the Civil War Garfield organized the 42 nd Ohio Infantry. He quickly became a major general, distinguished as the youngest officer of that rank, and then served as chief of staff under Major General William Rosecrans. Meanwhile, even though he was absent from his home state of Ohio, Garfield was elected to a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives based upon his military reputation. He eventually served eight terms as an Ohio Congressman. As a veteran congressman Garfield developed the art of compromise within Congress that ultimately led to his nomination for the presidency. While in Congress he chaired the Banking and Currency Committee, the Appropriations Committee and the Military Affairs Committee while also serving on the House Ways and Means Committee. During this period in American history, a major issue of the day was currency and how it was to be backed, whether by gold or silver.
President James Garfield (Cont d) Unbacked paper dollars called greenbacks were printed during the Civil War, adding more controversy to the monetary situation. Garfield favored that the currency continue to be backed by gold. Garfield was implicated in the political scandal of the day called Credit Mobiler. Credit Mobiler was the construction company responsible for building the transcontinental railway for Union Pacific Railroad. The federal government issued loans and land grants in support of the railroad expansion and members of Congress were accused of accepting stock in Credit Mobiler to relax oversight of the railroad project while company officials collected huge expense and salary payments. Garfield admitted to collecting $329 from the company. In 1880, President Rutherford Hayes held to his promise that he would serve only one term. Republicans needed to find a new presidential candidate and the convention delegates were split among several candidates, still undecided on a candidate after thirty-three ballots. Garfield, the compromiser, worked diligently behind the scenes on compromises and various delegates entered his name in nomination and voted for him as a token of appreciation for his efforts. After the thirty-third ballot the tide began to turn in his favor and he gained the nomination on the thirty-sixth ballot. In order to gain the support of New York Republicans Garfield accepted Chester Arthur as his vice presidential candidate. In one of the closest presidential elections in history, Garfield won the popular vote by just 7,368 votes, winning the electoral vote with the help of New York. Arthur had served as Collector of the Port of New York, an influential political appointment with oversight of three-quarters of the nation s import duties. Once in office Garfield appointed a member of a rival Republican faction to Arthur s former position, disrupting the balance of power within the Republican Party and causing a major rift between Garfield and his vice president. It is reported that the men scarcely spoke to each other.
President James Garfield (Cont d) Garfield was shot by an assassin on July 2, 1881 and died two months later on September 19. He had little time to accomplish much more than assemble his administration amidst the political dealings of the times. His one major accomplishment was to refinance federal government bonds.
Circle the correct answer. President James Garfield Questions 1. In his youth, James Garfield worked as a a. Farmer b. Sailor c. Janitor d. All of the above 2. During the Civil War Garfield served in a. The Union Army b. The U.S. Senate c. Both a. and b. above d. None of the above 3. While serving on the Banking and Currency Committee Garfield favored a. Silver certificates b. The Gold Standard c. Greenbacks d. All of the above 4. Garfield was implicated in the scandal called a. Teapot Dome b. Watergate c. Credit Mobiler d. None of the above 5. Garfield allowed Chester Arthur to run as the vice presidential nominee in order to gain support from the Republican Party in a. Massachusetts b. Ohio c. New York d. Pennsylvania 6. Garfield won the election of 1880 a. By one of the narrowest margins in U.S. history b. By one of the widest margins in U.S. history c. By losing the popular vote but winning the electoral vote d. By the vote of the vice president
President James Garfield Answers 1. d. 2. a. 3. b. 4. c. 5. c. 6. a.