How to Research James Garfield

James Garfield was the 20th president of the United States and the only person to be a representative, senator and president, simultaneously. He was the second president to die at the hands of an assassin. Follow these steps to learn more about his life and career.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet
• Books about the presidents
• Books about American history

1. Search government and history websites and books to learn about the best-known aspect of James Garfield--his assassination shortly after taking office.
2. Study his biographies to learn how he worked as a canal bargeman, a carpenter and a farmer, and still secured a college education. Explore how he volunteered for military service and became a brigadier general in the Civil War. Understand why he initially called for the execution Confederate leaders, but changed his stance after the Civil War.
3. Look for information on how he was nominated as a compromise over James Blaine, Ulysses S. Grant and John Sherman. Also look at how much of his brief tenure was devoted to wrangling with New York Sen. Roscoe Conkling over some appointments Garfield made.
4. Study important legislation passed during Garfield's presidency such as the Pendleton Act, which still forms the basis for civil service positions.
5. Examine other significant events in Garfield's presidency such as the repeated probing with non-sterile instruments after he was shot, which eventually killed him on Sept. 19, 1881. Learn about how Clara Barton founded the Red Cross. Also worthy of study is the Star Route Scandal uncovered by the Postmaster General.