How and why was James Garfield assassinated?

Answer 1

James A. Garfield was assassinated by Charles J. Guiteau on July 2, 1881 in Washington D.C. while walking through the Baltimore and Potomac railroad station. He had been president just shy of 4 months at the time, and his term lasted 6 1/2 months. Reportedly, the assassination was done because Guiteau was mentally ill and was upset that he had been repeatedly rejected to be the American consul in Paris.

Garfield was shot twice by Guiteau on July 2nd. He died on Sept 19th in Long Branch NJ. He would probably have survived his wounds if not for the medical practices of the day, which included the repeated "probing" of the path of the gunshot by doctors who did not yet know of the threat of infection via their unprotected hands. Guiteau believed in the current practice of patronage or the spoils system and that by elevating Chester A. Arthur to the presidency, he would insure that system continued. thank people.

Garfield was assassinated because his assassin, Charles Guiteau, was not appointed to a diplomatic post that he felt he deserved. His personal requests to Garfield and to cabinet members were continually rejected and eventually he was told to stop coming back.