Harp Week
Harp Week: The Presidential Elections: 1884 Overview
The campaign of 1884 was filled with scandals and recriminations from both parties. Read about the conventions that selected presidential candidates and read about the campaigns and election.
Harp Week
Harp Week: The Presidential Elections: 1880 Garfield v. Hancock
Just getting candidates for president was a trial for both the Republicans and Democrats in the election of 1880. Read about the factions in each party, and the several hopefuls wishing for the nomination. Find out about the platforms of...
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: Charles Guiteau Trial
From Douglas O. Linder's extensive website covering famous trials primarily in U.S. History, this famous trial is the Garfield Assassination Trial of Charles Guiteau. Find the chronology of events, a diagram of the train station where...
Northern Illinois University
Teaching Future Historians: Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act
Find the text of the Pendleton Act that was adopted to regulate and improve civil service in the United States government. This law as passed as a result of the assassination of James Garfield by a disgruntled man who felt he deserved...
Northern Illinois University
Teaching Future Historians: Civil Service Reform: Senate Debates
Here is a terrific lesson plan that involves all young scholars in examining the reasons Senators had for and against civil service reform following the assassination President Garfield. All the source materials are available for the...
US National Archives
Our Documents: Pendleton Act
A nice site about the Pendleton Act allows you to view a large image of the actual document itself, gives the transcript to the document, and provides background information about the Act.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Pendleton Act (1883)
The passage of the Pendleton Act was a reaction to assassination of President James A. Garfield. Find the text of the act and read a discussion of why such a law is necessary. An image of the document and a transcript of the law are...
University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Chester Alan Arthur
This Miller Center site is the portal for a great deal of information about Chester A. Arthur and his presidency. You can find a brief biography of Arthur, biographies of the members of his cabinet, an archive of his state of the nation...
OpenStax
Open Stax: Gilded Age 1870 1900: Key Political Issues: Patronage, Tariffs, Gold
Political patronage was a big problem in the late 19th century and led to corruption within the government. This made it difficult to reform the civil service. Tariffs were another big issue and affected economic groups in different...
University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Rutherford Birchard Hayes: Domestic Affairs
An in-depth analysis of the domestic policies and problems that Rutherford B. Hayes faced as president. Read about the end of Reconstruction, Hayes' economic policy, his troubles with a Democratic majority in the Congress, and his...
Harp Week
Harp Week Explore History: Chester A. Arthur
This biography of Chester A. Arthur concentrates on his time as Collector of the New York Customhouse, and despite his use of the patronage system, when he became president, he became a civil service reformer.
University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Chester Alan Arthur: Domestic Affairs
A good look at the domestic policies of President Chester A. Arthur, who demonstrated an independence from the Republican Party line.
Harp Week
Harp Week: The Presidential Elections: Grover Cleveland
A biography from Harp Week's extensive website about presidential elections of Grover Cleveland, outlining his tenure as governor of New York, and his two non-consecutive terms as president.
Digital History
Digital History: Civil Service Reform
Describes the problem of political patronage among government employees, that led to the passing of the Pendleton Act under President Chester Arthur. The Act brought in a merit system for employment in a government job.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Spoils System
Wikipedia provides information on the spoils system, a method of appointing officials to the U.S. government based on political connections.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: American Presidency: Chester A. Arthur
Brief biographical sketch of America's twenty-first president includes background information on the era in which he served.