Changes

===Garfield assassination===

===Garfield assassination===

[[Charles J. Guiteau]], a mentally ill office seeker and former Democrat, supported Ulysses S. Grant in the 1880 Republican primaries. Believing that simply backing a Republican would be enough to obtain him a government job due to the spoils system nature.<ref name=npsbasicinfo/> Guiteau prepared a fiery speech to draw out enthusiasm for Grant, only to replace all mentions of him with "Garfield" when the Ohio Republican was instead nominated.

[[Charles J. Guiteau]], a mentally ill office seeker and former Democrat, supported Ulysses S. Grant in the 1880 Republican primaries. Believing that simply backing a Republican would be enough to obtain him a government job due to the spoils system nature.<ref name=npsbasicinfo/> Guiteau prepared a fiery speech to draw out enthusiasm for Grant, only to replace all mentions of him with "Garfield" when the Ohio Republican was instead nominated.

{{cquote|Do not ask me about the Paris consulship ever again!|||James Gillespie Blaine, May 14, 1881}}

{{cquote|Do not ask me about the Paris consulship ever again!|||James Gillespie Blaine, May 14, 1881}}

Upon realizing that his effort to obtain a position within the Garfield Administration were futile, Guiteau sought to "save" the spoils system by killing Garfield to elevate Stalwart Vice President Chester Arthur to commander-in-chief.<ref name=npsbasicinfo/> also believing it was "God's will."<ref name=guiteauinsanity/> After stalking the president for some time, Guiteau assassinated Garfield on July 2, 1881 with a pistol. When caught at the scene and dragged away, he exclaimed:<ref name=guiteauinsanity/>

Upon realizing that his effort to obtain a position within the Garfield Administration were futile, Guiteau sought to "save" the spoils system by killing Garfield to elevate Stalwart Vice President Chester Arthur to commander-in-chief.<ref name=npsbasicinfo/> also believing it was "God's will."<ref name=guiteauinsanity/> After stalking the president for some time, Guiteau assassinated Garfield on July 2, 1881 with a pistol. When caught at the scene and dragged away, he exclaimed:<ref name=guiteauinsanity/>

{{cquote|I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts. Arthur is now President!|||Guiteau, July 2, 1881}}

{{cquote|I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts. Arthur is now President!|||Guiteau, July 2, 1881}}

[[File:George Pendleton Ohio.png|thumb|left|170px|[[George Hunt Pendleton]], author of the Pendleton Act.]]

[[File:George Pendleton Ohio.png|thumb|left|170px|[[George Hunt Pendleton]], author of the Pendleton Act.]]

===Half-Breeds push through Pendleton Act===

===Half-Breeds push through Pendleton Act===

The assassination of Garfield only damaged the cause of the Stalwarts, and its leader Conkling was blamed over Guiteau's actions. The new president, Chester Arthur, abandoned his past Stalwart roots and switched to support civil service reform,<ref name=garfieldandarthur/><ref name=ucf/> allying on the issue with congressional Half-Breeds.

The assassination of Garfield only damaged the cause of the Stalwarts, and its leader Conkling was blamed over Guiteau's actions. The new president, Chester Arthur, abandoned his past Stalwart roots and switched to support civil service reform,<ref name=garfieldandarthur/><ref name=ucf/> allying on the issue with congressional Half-Breeds.