World Events While Chester A. Arthur Was President
Chester Arthur was the Republican President of USA during 1881-1885. He had the distinction of having succeeded to Presidency while not being elected ever. |
Chester Arthur was originally the Vice President when the then President James Garfield was assassinated in July 1881. President Garfield, survived the attack, but passed away due to blood poisoning on September 19, 1881. So, on September 20, Chester Arthur was sworn in as the President.
Chester Arthur knew he had stiff opposition and did not enjoy public support. It is said that he had clashed more with his own Republican counterparts, than with the Democrats. He went against a lot of his political supporters which was one of the reasons why he was not nominated for re-election.
Major policy during his term was the Pendelton Civil Service Act which induced civil examination for government posts, curbing party politics. He not only signed the Bill, but actively campaigned for its implementation.
Another important event during his term was the rise in anti-Chinese feeling in the US. This led to the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 that was to halt any Chinese immigration. While Arthur vetoed the bill, he had to sign it and it was instrumental in stopping immigration for 10 years. The Bill was finally repealed in 1943 after going through two more renewal.
In 1884, President Arthur held a conference called the International Meridian Conference in Washington. The Greenwich Meridian, still in use today, was established in this Conference.
Arthur also enacted the first general federal immigration law and went against his Party’s wishes to lower tariff rates. But when the Congress, equally increased some tariffs, he had to pass the Bill. Since then this became an important political issue.
Other significant events were Shufeldt Treaty (1882) and the Standard Oil Trust (1882).
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