Our 21st President, Chester Alan Arthur

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Chester Alan Arthur, 21st president of the United States, lived during the years of 1830-1886. He was a post-Civil War president. During this era of history there was a shootout at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona in 1881. William F. Cody, Wild Bill, organized a Wild West show. John Roebling completed the Brooklyn Bridge. This was a time of change for the United States as it rebuilt after the Civil War.
Chester Arthur was born on October 5, 1829 in Fairfield, Vermont. His father, William Arthur, was a native of Ireland. His mother, Malvina Stone Arthur, was from Vermont. During his childhood the family moved from church to church around Vermont and upstate New York. Chester was the fifth of eight children; he had six sisters and an older brother. He studied basic reading and writing at home before he was old enough to go to school at Union Village.
At age 19 “Chet”, as he was known by his college friends, began at Union College in Schenectady. There he studied a traditional classical curriculum. He worked his way through college as teacher in a nearby town. As a college student he enjoyed playing pranks, and was not an outstanding student. He managed to graduate in the top third of his class and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After graduating from Union, he taught for several years while he studied law.
Chester began his law career as a clerk in a New York legal firm. This law firm, led by Culver, gained fame when they won the Lemmon Case. The Lemmon Case freed 8 slaved that had been brought to New York by their master and put in a local jail for safe keeping. Chester quickly earned fame through his own court victory when he successfully represented a young black woman named Elizabeth Jennings. She was ...

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Despite the fact that it was never acknowledged by fellow politicians, the press, or most Americans Chester Arthur performed well in office. He showed tremendous flexibility and willingness to embrace reform. President Chester A. Arthur is noted for being “an important transitional figure in the reunification of the nation after the bitter turmoil of the Civil War and Reconstruction.”(millercenter.org) Arthur is proof that the office of President could bring out the very best in its inhabitant.
Quote: “Men may die, but the fabric of our free institutions remains unshaken.”(izquotes.com)

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Works Cited

Millercenter.org/president/Arthur/essays/biography.7 May, 2014
Answers.com. 7 May, 2014
Projects.ilt.columbia.edu/Seneca/Jennings. 7 May, 2014 nytimes.com/2002/11/03/nyregion/-how-chester-arthur-made-new-york-history. 7 May, 2014

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