Return to General Homeschooling Message Board Return to History Return to Intermediate American History Chester A. Arthur Bookmark PDF File
Date of Birth: 5 October 1830 Date of Death: 18 November 1886 Place of Birth: Fairfield, Vermont
Marriage: 25 October 1859 Spouse: Ellen Lewis Herndon (1837-1880) Children: Two sons, one daughter William Lewis Herndon Arthur (1860-63); Chester Alan Arthur (1864-1937); Ellen Herndon Arthur (1871-1915)
Occupation: Teacher, lawyer Home: Albany, New York Religion: Episcopalian Political Party: Republican Nickname: "The Gentleman Boss"; "Elegant Arthur"
Chester A. Arthur of New York was vice president under James A. Garfield. Unfortunately, President Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau on 2 July 1881 and died 19 September 1881. (Guiteau was convicted of murder and hanged.) As a result, Vice-President Arthur became President.
Chester Alan Arthur's public service before presidency:
Quickie Questions: 1) How old was President Arthur when he died? 2) How old was Ellen Lewis Herndon (1837-1880) when she died? 3) How old was William Lewis Herndon Arthur (1860-63) when he died? 4) How old was Chester Alan Arthur (1864-1937) when he died? 5) How old was Ellen Herndon Arthur (1871-1915) when she died? 6) How many people were in President Arthur's family? 7) How old was President Arthur when he married? How old was Ellen Lewis Herndon when she married? 8) How old was President Arthur and Ellen Lewis Herndon when each of their children were born? 9) Did any of President Arthur and Ellen Lewis Herndon's children die before them? If so, who were they? 10) How old were each of the surviving children when President Arthur and Ellen Lewis Herndon died?
Domestic issues during Arthur's Administration —
Pendleton Act (1883) — The shock of Garfield's assassination pushed Arthur into reforming civil service. Senator George Pendleton of Ohio introduced a bill that encouraged merit for public service employees. Arthur backed the bill. The Pendleton Act provided for the following —
1) Competitive examinations 2) Federal office holders cannot be forced to contribute to campaigns or be fired for not contributing. 3) A list of federal positions were made which allowed the president to add to the list. 4) Government jobs were to be alloted to several states according to population.
Even though this would not end the graft and corruption, the Pendleton Act was a good start.
Mississippi Overflow — In 1882 the Mississippi overflowed its banks in Louisiana doing immense damage to cotton and sugar plantations making over 100,000 persons homeless.
East River Suspension Bridge (Brooklyn Bridge) — This bridge connects New York City with Brooklyn and took 14 years to finish. The bridge was begun by John A. Roebling (Ro' bling) of Trenton, New Jersey — the inventor of wire suspension bridges, the builder of the Niagara railroad suspension bridge, and the great suspension bridge across the Ohio River in Cincinnati. Robling only lived to complete the plan of the East River Bridge (which is over a mile long) and was succeeded by his son, W.A. Roebling.
Reduction of Postage — In 1883 postage for letters went from 3¢ to 2¢
Steel Navy Started (1882) — In 1882, the United States Navy ranked 12th among the nations. Arthur pushed for a steel navy. Construction on the steel cruisers Chicago and Boston began. As a result the USA was now a leading naval power. Importantly, steel used for America's navy must be of domestic manufacture.
United States:
Locate the following places on a map, globe, and atlas on a map, globe, and atlas. Vermont, New York, Ohio, Louisiana, New Jersey How far away are these places from where you live, approximately?
United States Challenge:
Locate the following places on a map, globe, and atlas on a map, globe, and atlas. Fairfield (Vermont), Albany (New York), Chicago (Illinois), Boston (Massachusetts), Mississippi River, Brooklyn (New York), Trenton (New Jersey), Cincinnati (Ohio), New Orleans
How far away are these places from where you live, approximately?
South America:
Challenge: Locate the following places on a map, globe, and atlas. Mexico
How far away is this place from where you live, approximately?
Europe:
Locate the following places on a map, globe, and atlas on a map, globe, and atlas. Britain, Germany Austria, Italy, Belgium
Europe Challenge:
Locate the following places on a map, globe, and atlas on a map, globe, and atlas.
London (England)
The East:
Thailand
Locate:
Alexandria (Egypt), Khartoum (Africa) How far away are these places from where you live, approximately?
Bodies of Water: Locate the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean in relation to where you live on a map, globe, and atlas.
Weather: Take one of the Countries or States in the United States (listed above) and one European country and compare the weather with where you live for one week.
1880s Kitchen Gadgets — Ball-Mason jars introduced, Lenox china
1880s New Food — malted milk, powdered pea & beet soups, evaporated milk, Aunt Jemima pancake flour, Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, Thomas's English muffins, Oscar Mayer wieners, Salada Tea, Tetley Tea, Log Cabin Syrup, Morton's salt, canned meat and fruit in stores (1880), flaked cereal, canned meat and fruit in stores (1880) — This was an important advanced as it saved on major household accidents and decreased disease from foods that were canned incorrectly at home. Moreover, we were now able to ship food to those that were hungry, that had gone through a natural disaster, etc. as the foods would last.
1880s New Food Companies — McCormick Spices, R. T. French, Maxwell House, B. H. Kroger, Lever Brothers, Calumet Baking Powder, Diamond Crystal Salt, American Cereal, Pillsbury-Washburn Flour Mills, Dr. Pepper, pizza as we know it
Jelly Custard Pie — six cups of flour three cups of lard
Chop flour and lard together, mix and roll. Take water from this pitcher of ice. Use the least water possible. Handle as little as may be. Roll one way all the time — from you. Bake carefully, and your crusts will be light and flaky. To one cup of raspberry jelly, add one egg and three tablespoons of thick cream; bake without upper crust.
English Plum Pudding — Beat six yolks and four whites of eggs very light, and add to them a tumbler of sweet milk; stir in gradually one-fourth pound grated or chopped stale bread, a pound flour, three-quarters pound sugar, and a pound each of beef-suet chopped very fine, currants nicely washed and dried, and stoned raisins, well floured; stir well, then add two nutmegs [grated], a table-spoon mace, one of cinnamon or cloves, a wine-glass brandy, a tea-spoon salt, and finally another tumbler of milk. Boil in bowls or molds five hours, and serve with sauce made of drawn butter, wine, sugar, and nutmeg. These will keep for months; when wanted, boil one hour before using. A pound of citron or blanched sweet almonds adds to the richness of the pudding, but may be omitted.
1882 — Triple Alliance between Germany, Austria, Italy
England: Victoria is Queen (1837-1901) from the House of Hanover Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee British bombard Alexandria forcing French to leave; Egypt becomes British colony 2 March 1882: R. MacLean attempts to assassinate Queen Victoria at Windsor 3 March 1883: Karl Marx dies in London 1883: General Gordon sent to Khartoum to resuce British garrison. Gordon becomes besieged. Wolseley sent to rescue Gordon. Gordon killed by spear (26 Jan 1885) 1885: General Gordon killed by spear (26 Jan 1885)
Britain's Prime Minister: William Gladstone (1880-1885)
Asia: Rama V reigns (1868-1910) and founded Thailand
South America: 1876- 1911 — President Diaz rules Mexico
1882 — Hysteria treated via hypnosis (1882)
1883 — Northern Pacific Railroad (1883) Skyscraper (1883) Orient Express (1883) Brooklyn Bridge (1883) Edison invents light bulb (1883)
1884 — underground railroad in London (1884) 1885 — fingerprints discovered to be unique (1885) calculator (William Seward Burroughs / 1885) aluminum (Charles Martin Hall / 1885)
Silver Dollar (1932) — (Edward G. Robinson as Yates Martin, Walter Rodgers as General Grant, Emmett Corrigan as President Chester A. Arthur) black and white, 84 min
Treasure Island (1934) — (Wallace Beery as Long John Silver, Jackie Cooper as Jim Hawkins, Lionel Barrymore as Captain Billy 'Bill' Bones) black and white, 103 min
Treasure Island (1990 for TV) — (Charlton Heston as Long John Silver, Christian Bale as Jim Hawkins, Oliver Reed as Capt. Billy Bones, Christopher Lee as Blind Pew) color, 131 min
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939) — (Mickey Rooney as Huckleberry 'Huck' Finn, Walter Connolly as The 'King') black and white, 91 min King Solomon's Mines (1985) — (Richard Chamberlain as Allan Quartermainm Sharon Stone as Jesse Huston) color, 100 min
The Young Tom Edison Mickey Rooney stars as the young boy who grew up to become America’s greatest inventor in this heartwarming, humorous biographical drama based on his early life. Young Tom is barred from school after he nearly burns down the schoolhouse, but finally earns the town’s respect when his ingenuity helps to prevent a tragedy. 1 hr 22 min
Edison, the Man Just as Thomas Edison lit up the darkened skies of New York City over one hundred years ago with the amazing electric light, Spencer Tracy ignites the screen with a powerful and touching portrayal of America's most beloved scientific wonder. Taut with suspense and brimming with humor, Edison, the Man is a brilliant tribute to a brilliant man. B&W
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939) with Don Ameche and Loretta Young. Learn about Bell's determination and his invention of the telephone. Point out that Mr. Bell's wife and mother were both deaf and he helped Helen Keller.
Miracle Worker (1962) with Patty Duke and Anne Bancroff. Story about Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan, 107 minutes
The Arabian Nights (2000 / TV by Hallmark) — (Mili Avital as Scheherezade, Alan Bates as Storyteller, James Frain as Schahzenan, Tchéky Karyo as Black Coda, Jason Scott Lee as Aladdin, John Leguizamo as Genie of the Lamp/Genie of the Ring) color, 180 minutes (Special Note: The Arabian Nights was "cleaned up" by the Victorians.)
Khartoum (1966) — (Charlton Heston as Gen. Charles 'Chinese' Gordon, Laurence Olivier as The Mahdi, Richard Johnson asCol. J.D.H. Stewart, Ralph Richardson as William Gladstone, Alexander Knox as Sir Evelyn Baring, Johnny Sekka as Khaleel, Michael Hordern as Lord Granville, Zia Mohyeddin as Zobeir Pasha, Marne Maitland as Sheikh Osman, Nigel Green as Gen. Wolseley, Hugh Williams as Lord Hartington, Ralph Michael as Sir Charles Dilke, Douglas Wilmer as Khalifa Abdullah, Edward Underdown as Col. Hicks, Peter Arne as Maj. Kitchener) color, 128 minutes
Victoria the Great (1937) — (Anna Neagle as Queen Victoria, Anton Walbrook as Prince Albert, Walter Rilla as Prince Ernest, H.B. Warner as Lord Melbourne, Mary Morris as Duchess of Kent, James Dale (III) as Duke of Wellington, Felix Aylmer as Lord Palmerston, Charles Carson as Sir Robert Peel, Gordon McLeod as John Brown, C.V. France as Archbishop of Canterbury, Arthur Young as Rt. Hon. William Gladstone, Grete Wegener as Baroness Lehzen, Paul Leyssac as Baron Stockmar, Derrick De Marney as Younger Disraeli, Hugh Miller as Older Disraeli) black and white, 112 minutes
Books —
G.A. Henty — See: PrestonSpeed Publications, 51 Ridge Road, Mill Hall, PA 17751
1880 — Ben Hur by Lew Wallace (1880)
1882 — Treasure Island by Robert Lewis Stevenson (1882)
1884 — Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (1884)
1885 — The Arabian Nights by Richard Burton (1885) King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard (1885)
Music —
Percy Montross — Clementine (1880s)
1884 — Brahms — Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90 (1884) G. Clifton Bingham — Love's Old Sweet Song (1884) Ed Haley — While Strolling Through the Park (1884)
1885 — Gilbert and Sullivan — The Mikado (1885): Flowers that Bloom in the Spring (song)
Art —
Bingo (1880)
1883 — Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show (1883) William Morris' Honeysuckle Chints fabric pattern
Artists Cezanne, Pissarro, Renoir, Rodin, Liebermann, Monet, Manet, Seurat, Van Gogh, Sargent, Klinger, Millais, Toulouse-Lautrec, Gustave
Activities —
1) The Our Fair City News has hired you to write a brief article on President Chester A. Arthur. Tell about his family and family life. How would being the head of a family help one to be the president of the United States?
2) Senator Pendleton of Ohio along with the rest of the United States was shocked at the assassination of President Garfield by a discontented office seeker. The senator wants you to put together some ads that quickly explain WHY competitive examinations and the like are important for public service.
3) Oh dear oh dear ... my cotton and sugar crops are almost ruined! Many of my neighbors, friends, and relatives have lost their homes. Why? The Mississippi River has overflowed its banks in Louisiana. So many were not prepared for what happened. The governor of Louisiana has asked me to put together a list of what a first aide box should contain for a family. He also thinks that important papers should be kept in a waterproof container and wants me to put together a list of what those important papers should be. Unfortunately, I must attend to my cotton and sugar crops before I lose what I have left! Could you put those two lists together for me? Thanks ever so much !
4) The Roebling family did it! Nobody thought they could, but they did! It took over 14 years to complete the Brooklyn Bridge also known as the East River Suspension Bridge! Fourteen years is a long time! Do you know anybody that is 14? It is absolutely fantastic connecting New York City with Brooklyn. We live in such an age of scientific marvels! Incredible! The cities of New York and Brooklyn would like you to come up with lyrics commemorating this event to the tune of Waltzing Matilda (lyrics and tune)
5) Amazing ! Absolutely Amazing ! Who would've thought that stamps would go from 3¢ to 2¢! Some folks in your age may not consider the savings of a 1¢ much, but it certainly is in my day! For this alone, President Arthur should be given a medal! In fact, that is why I pulled you aside. We would like you to design a medal commemorating this notable event to be given to President Arthur. If you have time, we would greatly appreciate it if you could make it as well. Make sure it has plenty of glitz like having gold and colorful ribbons along with titling the medal with one or two words.
6) Incredible! What a fantastic job you have done with the medal! We would now like you to put together a minute to three minute speech giving the medal to President Arthur. If possible, please film your speech. Thanks!
7) WOW ! President Chester A. Arthur has done it again! In 1882, the United States Navy ranked as number 12 among the nations. President Arthur knew that could not be safe for our people so he pushed for the steel cruisers Chicago and Boston to be constructed. Now, we are the world's leading naval power. Not only that, but President Arthur insisted that the steel for American cruisers should be manufactured in the United States! Hooray for President Chester A. Arthur! We would like you to learn and teach others the Navy song/anthem Anchors Away (lyrics and tune).
8) Listen: Listen to the following pieces of music. What did you think when listening to the music? What did you feel (sad, glad, mad, scared)?
8) Alliteration = Alliteration is the repetition of the initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words ... kind of like tongue twisters. Pronunciation: uh-LIT-uh-ray-shun
Example: Certainly chairman Chester changed challenging champion chaps. Arduously Arthur ardently anchored artificial aromas architecturally.
Do your own Chester A. Arthur Alliteration for Ellen, navy, Mississippi, aliens, lawyer, etc.
Hint: If you have difficulty creating alliteration phrases, try the formula below ...
9) Chester A. Arthur Analogies — Complete the following analogies. For analogy help, click here.
The Arabian Nights (1885) is to Richard Burton as Huckleberry Finn (1884) is to C.D. Baker G.A. Henty Mark Twain Charlotte Yonge .
William Seward Burroughs is to calculator (1885) as the Thomas Alva Edison is to Chicago Fire (1871) light bulb (1883) deepening the Mississippi River's mouth C.D. Baker's "The List" .
William Morris is to honeysuckle chintz fabric pattern (1883) as Buffalo Bill is to The Arabian Nights Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance (1880) Whistler's Mother the Wild West Show (1883) .
Cezanne is to art as Brahms is to music history literature math .
Click here for Chester A. Arthur Analogy Answers
10) Chester A. Arthur Onomatopoeia — Complete the following. For Onomatopoeia help, click here.
What onomatopoeia sound ... a) ... is heard on the shores of the Mississippi River? b) ... does a lawyer hear in a court of law? c) ... do you hear when someone turns a page in the Bible? d) ... was heard when a workman was pounding in a rivet (a kind of funny shaped nail) on the Brooklyn Bridge? e) ... is heard when a stamp is put on a letter? f) ... did you hear when a Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper is being poured in a glass? g) ... is heard when the kettle lets you know it is ready to pour into the Salada or Tetley tea? h) ... is heard McCormick Spices are being poured out of its bottle? i) ... was heard when the Orient Express (a fancy train) was leaving the station? j) ... is heard when fingerprints are made on a piece of paper? k) ... is heard at a museum? l) ... is heard at the library? m) ... do you hear at the jewelry counter as the clerk brings out jewelry pieces? n) ... is heard when someone is using a calculator?
Chester A. Arthur Analogy Answers: Mark Twain, light bulb (1883), the Wild West Show (1883), music
Field Trips —
1) Go to an antique store and ask the clerk to show you three things from the years 1881-1885 or when Chester A. Arthur was president. How are these things alike/different? Do we have anything like this today? Why? How do these old things smell?
2) Go to a graveyard and try to find graves between the years 1881-1885. Was the person a male or female? Do you think they were Christian? Make up a story about what you think this person was like.
3) Field Trip: Visit your local grocery store. How many new foods, new food gadgets, and new food companies from this time can you spot?
4) Field Trip: If possible, visit the Mississippi River or a large river in your area? Why do you think it would be so devastating if it overflowed its banks? Visit your local police and/or fire station and ask them if you lived by the Mississippi River, what the job of the local police and the local fire station would be.
5) Field Trip: Visit your local library and check out a book of etiquette. What are some of the rules for eating a meal or greeting one another? Do you think this was one of the reasons by President Chester A. Arthur had the nicknames of "The Gentleman Boss" and "Elegant Arthur"?
6) Field Trip: If possible, visit your state's capital building and meet with your state representative or his staff. Ask them to briefly explain how an act is passed in your state.
7) Field Trip: Visit your local post office and interview the Post Master. Ask him about what the requirements are to become a federal or state government worker. Ask him what the competitive examinations are like.
8) Field Trip: If possible, visit the Brooklyn Bridge or a suspension bridge or just cross over a bridge. Discuss: (a) why math would be important to make a safe bridge, (b) how to make a bridge pretty or appealing to the eye, (c) why safety is important for bridges, etc.
9) Field Trip: Visit your local post office and ask them to explain why some folks collect stamps. Have the post office show you some of the stamps many folks are collected today and what makes them important.
10) Field Trip: If possible, visit a United States Navy ship yard and take a tour of a ship.
WARNING: Be sure that females wear modest slacks while on board ship and not a skirt or a dress. (A shirt or a dress on board ship is most inappropriate and immodest).
Fun Reading —
— The Arabian Nights by Richard Burton (1885): Be VERY careful when selecting this book. You do NOT want the original version of The Arabian Nights, but the version that was cleaned up by the Victorians
Great Illustrated Classics Book Series —
— Treasure Island by Robert Lewis Stevenson (1882) — Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (1884) — The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Landmark and Landmark World Book Series (Random House, NY) — approx. 4th grade to 6th grade reading level -- Only a few books in this series are currently being published. However, scouring the internet's used curriculum boards, flea markets, used book stores, library sales, and the like should assist you in locating these gems.
— Buffalo Bill's Great Wild West Show by Walter Havighurst, Landmark Series — Wild Bill Hickok Tames the West by Stewart H.Holbrook, Landmark Series — Wyatt Earp: U.S. Marshal by Stewart H.Holbrook, Landmark Series
NOTE: If you have not read the following Childhood of Famous American Series, do so now ...
Childhood of Famous American Series — approx. 2nd to 4th grade remedial — Only a few books in this series are currently being published. However, scouring flea markets, used book stores, library sales, and the like should assist you in locating these gems.
— Tom Edison: Boy Inventor by Sue Guthridge, Childhood of Famous American Series — Buffalo Bill: Boy of the Plains by Augusta Stevenson, Childhood of Famous American Series