James A. Garfield
Before becoming the 20th President of the United States, James A. Garfield was a member of the House of Representatives. Prior to being in the House, he was a Union general during the American Civil War, fighting important battles such as Middle Creek, Shiloh and Chickamauga. Garfield was responsible for many important things while in office, such as building up the Navy, stopping corruption in the U.S. postal service and creating a universal education system. He was also very involved in civil rights activism, appointing many African Americans to government positions…Frederick Douglass being one of them! Sadly, after an assassination attempt, his health never fully returned.
James A. Garfield
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