James Abram Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, was assassinated on July 2, 1881, just four months into his presidency. Born into poverty in rural Ohio, Garfield overcame significant obstacles to become a respected educator, distinguished Civil War general, and influential Congressman. His presidency aimed at significant reforms, notably challenging the entrenched patronage (spoils) system.
The assassination occurred at Washington D.C.’s Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station, perpetrated by Charles J. Guiteau, a disgruntled and mentally unstable office-seeker angered by his repeated failures to secure a patronage appointment. Garfield survived the initial shooting but succumbed 79 days later due to severe infection caused largely by unsanitary medical practices of the era. Modern medical analysis suggests that Garfield likely would have survived if antiseptic methods—already known but not universally practiced at the time—had been properly utilized.
Garfield’s death profoundly impacted the nation, spurring major political reforms. Public outrage over the assassination led directly to the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, fundamentally transforming federal employment from patronage to merit-based selection. Garfield’s short presidency thus became symbolic of both reform potential and tragic loss, and his assassination permanently changed the standards for government integrity and presidential security.
- Executive Summary
- Historical Background
- Political and Social Context
- The Plot and Motive of Charles J. Guiteau
- Timeline of Events
- The Assassination Attempt
- Medical Response and Prolonged Decline
- Death and National Reaction
- Investigation and Arrest of the Assassin
- Trial and Legal Proceedings
- Punishment and Psychological Legacy of Guiteau
- Medical Controversies and Professional Backlash
- Long-Term Impact on the Nation
- Conspiracy Theories and Alternative Narratives
- Primary Source Appendix