During the U.S. presidential election of 1880, Charles J. Guiteau supported James A. Garfield, the eventual winner. Guiteau believed that he had played a key role in Garfield’s victory and demanded a consulship as a reward for his efforts. When it became clear that there would be no government posting, Guiteau decided to kill Garfield. He thought that he had been denied the post because of his alignment with the Stalwarts of the Republican Party, and he feared that Garfield was planning on ending the patronage system, a polarizing issue within the party. Guiteau thought that the death of Garfield would end the divisions among Republicans. In addition, he believed that after taking office, Chester A. Arthur, a Stalwart, would reward him with a job.
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