James A Garfield Speech

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James A. Garfield I. Introduction 1. James Abram Garfield (for three months) served as the 20th President of the United States, after completing nine consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. 2. “The chief duty of government is to keep the peace and stand out of the sunshine of the people.” II. Life Before Presidency 3. Childhood a. James Garfield was born the youngest of five children on November 19, 1831, in a log cabin in Orange Township, now Moreland Hills, Ohio. b. He was also the last president to be born in a log cabin. c. At age 16, he struck out on his own, drawn seaward by dreams of being a seaman, and got a job for six weeks as a canal driver near Cleveland d. Illness forced him to return home and, once recuperated, he began school at Geauga Seminary, where he became keenly interested in academics, both learning and teaching. e. Garfield then enrolled at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity and graduated in 1856 as an outstanding student III. Work experience 4. First jobs f. At first he became a teacher. a. At the start of the American Civil War Garfield quickly grew frustrated with his vain efforts to obtain an officer's commission in the Union Army. b. His victory at Jenny’s creek brought him early recognition and he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on January 11 c. Garfield later commanded the 20th Brigade of Ohio under Buell at the Battle of Shiloh, where he led troops in an attempt delayed by weather to reinforce Major Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, after a surprise attack by Confederate General Albert S. Johnston. d. Meanwhile in 1862 Ohioans elected him to Congress. President Lincoln persuaded him to resign his

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