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.
Other
The Garfield Observer: Stalwarts, Half Breeds, and Political Assassination
This is a concise description of the turmoil in the Republican Party leading up to the campaign and election of 1880. How or whether to reform the patronage system was at the heart of the selection of a candidate. Find out about the...
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: James Abram Garfield: Life Before the Presidency
James A. Garfield wasn't a president for very long before he was cut down by an assassin, but reading about his political life before his presidency gives a good look at his political life and his political strategy. It also shows the...
University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: James Abram Garfield: Domestic Affairs
President James Garfield didn't serve long enough to put much of a stamp on domestic affairs, but reading about the selection of his cabinet gives a good window into what his tenure might have been like, and what the rifts in the...
University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Rutherford Hayes: Campaigns and Elections
Read this very thorough discussion of the nomination process for the candidates for both the Republican and Democratic Parties in the election of 1876. In addition, the explanation of the eventual outcome of the disputed election is very...
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.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Roscoe Conkling
Roscoe Conkling (October 30, 1829 - April 18, 1888) was a politician from New York who served both as a member of the United States House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. He was the leader of the Stalwart faction of the Republican...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Roscoe Conkling
(1829-1888) US representative and senator from New York who was confirmed a Supreme Court Justice.