Chester Alan Arthur, born on 05 October 1829, in Fairfield, Vermont, was an American statesman and the 21st President of the United States. Here are key points about Chester A. Arthur:
Early Life: Chester Arthur was the son of a Baptist minister. He attended Union College in Schenectady, New York, and later became a schoolteacher before studying law.
Legal Career: After being admitted to the bar, Arthur practiced law in New York City. He developed a successful legal career and became involved in Republican Party politics.
Customs Collector: Arthur's political connections led to his appointment as the Collector of the Port of New York in 1871, a lucrative position at the time. He was associated with the political machine led by Senator Roscoe Conkling.
Reform Efforts: As customs collector, Arthur implemented civil service reforms, aiming to reduce political patronage in government appointments. This effort brought him into conflict with President Rutherford B. Hayes, who sought civil service reform.
Vice Presidency: In 1880, Arthur was nominated as the Republican candidate for vice president, running alongside James A. Garfield. The ticket won the election.
Assassination of Garfield: Arthur became President of the United States on September 19, 1881, following the assassination of President Garfield. Garfield's death deeply affected Arthur, and he sought to distance himself from Conkling's political machine.
Civil Service Reform: Surprisingly, President Arthur continued to champion civil service reform during his tenure. In 1883, the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act was passed, creating a merit-based system for federal employment.
Chinese Exclusion Act: In 1882, President Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which restricted Chinese immigration to the United States. The law reflected growing anti-Chinese sentiment in the country.
Dawes Act: Arthur signed the Dawes Act in 1887, which aimed to assimilate Native American tribes by dividing their lands into individual allotments.
Illness and Death: Arthur's health declined during his presidency, and he was not renominated for the 1884 election. He returned to private life and died of a cerebral hemorrhage on 18 November 1886, at the age of 57.
Chester A. Arthur's presidency is notable for his unexpected rise to the office and his surprising commitment to civil service reform. Despite initial skepticism about his capabilities, Arthur demonstrated a willingness to transcend his political origins and pursue policies that prioritized merit over political patronage.
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