Lessons on American Presidents.com
  Handout + MP3 + 8 Online Quizzes on James Garfield

James Garfield was born in Ohio, in 1831. Fatherless at two, he later drove canal boat teams, somehow earning enough money for an education. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts in 1856, and later returned to Ohio as a classics professor. Within a year he was made its president. He served 200 days as the 20th President of the United States before being assassinated in 1881.

Garfield was elected to the Ohio Senate in 1859 as a Republican. During the secession crisis, he argued for strengthening the Union. In 1862, when Union military victories had been few, he successfully led a brigade in Kentucky, against Confederate troops. Ohioans elected him to Congress. He repeatedly won re-election for 18 years (nine terms), and became the leading Republican in the House.

At the 1880 Republican Convention, Garfield became the "dark horse" nominee. In the Presidential election, Garfield defeated the Democratic nominee, Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, by a margin of only 10,000 popular votes. As President, Garfield successfully managed a national debt crisis. He also appointed several African Americans to prominent positions in his administration.

On July 2, 1881, President Garfield was on his way to Williams College, where he was due to make a speech. As he walked through a Washington railway station, he was shot twice by an assassin, Charles J. Guiteau and mortally wounded. He lay in the White House for weeks before dying from an infection and internal bleeding on September 19. He was 49. His final words were: "My work is done."

Article adapted from www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jamesgarfield

James Garfield was born in Ohio, in 1831. Fatherless at two, he later drove canal boat teams, _______________________ money for an education. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts in 1856, and later returned to Ohio _______________________. Within a year he was made its president. He served 200 days as the 20th President of the United States before _______________________ in 1881.

Garfield was elected to the Ohio Senate in 1859 as a Republican. During the secession crisis, he _______________________ the Union. In 1862, when Union _______________________ been few, he successfully led a brigade in Kentucky, against Confederate troops. Ohioans elected him to Congress. He _______________________ for 18 years (nine terms), and became the leading Republican in the House.

At the 1880 Republican Convention, Garfield _______________________ nominee. In the Presidential election, Garfield defeated the Democratic nominee, Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, _______________________ 10,000 popular votes. As President, Garfield successfully managed a national debt crisis. He also appointed several African Americans _______________________ in his administration.

On July 2, 1881, President Garfield was on his way to Williams College, where he was _______________________. As he walked through a Washington railway station, he was shot twice by an assassin, Charles J. Guiteau _______________________. He lay in the White House for weeks before _______________________ and internal bleeding on September 19. He was 49. His final words were: "My work is done."

  CORRECT THE SPELLING

James Garfield was born in Ohio, in 1831. Fatherless at two, he later drove canal boat teams, somehow eganirn enough money for an education. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts in 1856, and later renuedtr to Ohio as a classics rpefssoor. Within a year he was made its president. He served 200 days as the 20th President of the United States before being assassinated in 1881.

Garfield was elected to the Ohio Senate in 1859 as a Republican. During the secession iicssr, he argued for strengthening the Union. In 1862, when Union military victories had been few, he successfully led a brigade in Kentucky, against Confederate troops. Ohioans deceetl him to Congress. He peyderleat won re-election for 18 years (nine terms), and became the leading Republican in the House.

At the 1880 Republican Convention, Garfield became the "dark horse" nominee. In the Presidential election, Garfield etafedde the Democratic nominee, Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, by a aimnrg of only 10,000 popular votes. As President, Garfield successfully managed a national debt crisis. He also appointed slareve African Americans to prominent positions in his administration.

On July 2, 1881, President Garfield was on his way to Williams College, where he was due to make a speech. As he walked through a Washington railway station, he was shot twice by an assassin, Charles J. Guiteau and mortally denuodw. He lay in the White House for weeks before dying from an itnoefcni and internal bleeding on September 19. He was 49. His final words were: "My work is done."

  UNJUMBLE THE WORDS

James Garfield was born in Ohio, in 1831. Fatherless at two, he later drove canal boat , teams money enough earning somehow for an education. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts in 1856, as and returned Ohio a later to classics professor. president its made was he year a Within. He served 200 days as the 20th President of the United States before being assassinated in 1881.

Garfield was elected to the Ohio Senate in 1859 as a Republican. During the secession crisis, argued the for he strengthening Union. In 1862, Union victories been when military had few, he successfully led a brigade in Kentucky, against Confederate troops. Ohioans elected him to Congress. He repeatedly won re-18 for election ), terms nine ( years, and became the leading Republican in the House.

the Convention 1880 At Republican, Garfield became the "dark horse" nominee. In the Presidential election, Garfield defeated the Democratic nominee, Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, by a margin of only 10,000 popular votes. As President, Garfield successfully managed a national debt crisis. also African appointed He several Americans to in prominent his positions administration.

On July 2, 1881, President Garfield on way Williams was his to College, where a he due make speech was to. As he walked through a Washington railway station, he was shot twice by an assassin, Charles J. Guiteau and mortally wounded. He lay in the White House for before from infection weeks dying an and internal bleeding on September 19. He was 49. His final words were: "My work is done."

  DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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  STUDENT JAMES GARFIELD SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about James Garfield in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

  WRITING

Write about James Garfield for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

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  HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET INFO: Search the Internet and find more information about James Garfield. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about James Garfield. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. JAMES GARFIELD POSTER Make a poster about James Garfield. Show it to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your posters.

5. MY JAMES GARFIELD LESSON: Make your own English lesson on James Garfield. Make sure there is a good mix of things to do. Find some good online activities. Teach the class / another group when you have finished.

6. ONLINE SHARING: Use your blog, wiki, Facebook page, MySpace page, Twitter stream, Del-icio-us / StumbleUpon account, or any other social media tool to get opinions on James Garfield. Share your findings with the class.