The life and death of James A. Garfield, the 20th US president who was brutally assassinated just four months into his presidency. The Netflix drama 'Death By Lightning', starring Michael Shannon as Garfield and Matthew Macfadyen as the assassin Charles Guiteau, sheds light on a tragic and forgotten chapter in American history.
Garfield, born in a log cabin in Ohio, rose to become president through his intelligence, kindness, and commitment to equality for African Americans. He was a true Renaissance man, who worked as a lawyer, minister, farmer, and college professor before entering politics. His strong support for black suffrage and civil rights set him apart from his contemporaries.
However, Garfield's presidency was cut short by both an assassin's bullet and medical malpractice. Guiteau, a deranged and delusional man who believed he had been chosen by God for greatness, shot Garfield twice in the back at a Baltimore & Potomac Railroad station in July 1881.
The aftermath of the assassination was chaotic, with doctors introducing massive infection into Garfield's wound through unsterilized fingers and instruments. The government's handling of the crisis was criticized for its incompetence, and many historians believe that the nation lost out on a president who could have made a significant impact on civil rights.
Garfield's death sparked outrage and calls for reform, particularly with regards to the patronage system and medical care. President Chester Arthur, who succeeded Garfield as president, took steps to address these issues and signed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883, which established a merit-based system for federal employment.
The Netflix drama 'Death By Lightning' offers a gripping and thought-provoking portrayal of this tragic event in American history. With its faithfulness to historical events and figures, the show sheds light on a pivotal moment in US politics and raises questions about what could have been if Garfield had lived.
Ultimately, the life and death of James A. Garfield serve as a reminder of the importance of empathy, equality, and good governance. His tragic fate highlights the need for reform and vigilant leadership, and serves as a powerful warning against the dangers of complacency and corruption in government.
Garfield, born in a log cabin in Ohio, rose to become president through his intelligence, kindness, and commitment to equality for African Americans. He was a true Renaissance man, who worked as a lawyer, minister, farmer, and college professor before entering politics. His strong support for black suffrage and civil rights set him apart from his contemporaries.
However, Garfield's presidency was cut short by both an assassin's bullet and medical malpractice. Guiteau, a deranged and delusional man who believed he had been chosen by God for greatness, shot Garfield twice in the back at a Baltimore & Potomac Railroad station in July 1881.
The aftermath of the assassination was chaotic, with doctors introducing massive infection into Garfield's wound through unsterilized fingers and instruments. The government's handling of the crisis was criticized for its incompetence, and many historians believe that the nation lost out on a president who could have made a significant impact on civil rights.
Garfield's death sparked outrage and calls for reform, particularly with regards to the patronage system and medical care. President Chester Arthur, who succeeded Garfield as president, took steps to address these issues and signed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883, which established a merit-based system for federal employment.
The Netflix drama 'Death By Lightning' offers a gripping and thought-provoking portrayal of this tragic event in American history. With its faithfulness to historical events and figures, the show sheds light on a pivotal moment in US politics and raises questions about what could have been if Garfield had lived.
Ultimately, the life and death of James A. Garfield serve as a reminder of the importance of empathy, equality, and good governance. His tragic fate highlights the need for reform and vigilant leadership, and serves as a powerful warning against the dangers of complacency and corruption in government.
, I think it's really cool that they're shedding light on this forgotten chapter in American history 
. Garfield's story is like, whoa - from being born in a log cabin to becoming president, he was like a total Renaissance man 
! And can you believe the government messed up so badly after his assassination? I mean, it's crazy that they didn't take better care of him and ended up introducing infection into his wound 
. It's wild how this event sparked calls for reform and led to some major changes in the way the government handles medical care 
. As for the show, I think it's really well done - Michael Shannon as Garfield is intense 
, and Matthew Macfadyen as Guiteau is like, totally unhinged 
! Overall, I think this drama does a great job of highlighting the importance of empathy, equality, and good governance 
. It's a powerful reminder that even one person can make a big impact if given the chance 
.
I mean, his support for equality and civil rights was way ahead of its time, especially back in the 19th century. It makes me think that we're still not as far gone on those issues as people thought we were 
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I don't blame Chester Arthur for trying to make things right after Garfield died, though. He did sign some good stuff into law, and it shows he cared about the country 
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but what really gets me is how accurate the show is to historical events, it's like u can feel the weight of garfield's presidency being cut short 
and the way they portray the medical malpractice that killed him is just heartbreaking 
i mean we all know how important good governance is, and garfield's story shows us what happens when things go wrong 
but at the same time, it's also super inspiring to see his commitment to equality and civil rights, he was literally a true renaissance man 
what really got me though was how the government handled the crisis after the assassination 
it was all so chaotic! but on a more positive note, i loved how president chester arthur took steps to reform the patronage system & signed the pendleton civil service act in 1883 
that's like, super important for good governance 
he wanted equality for all which is still such an important issue today i wish more ppl would take note of his legacy
. The Netflix show is actually really good, though - it gives me chills every time I watch it 
. What's even more disturbing is how the government was basically powerless to prevent this from happening...like, what could they have done differently? 
And then there's this crazy side plot where the US government messed up his medical care like a total noob 
. I love how they used subheadings to break up the text and create a sense of hierarchy - it makes reading super easy 
. But overall, this article is a masterclass in formatting and structure - well done 
!
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And can you imagine if he had lived? Maybe we'd have even more civil rights progress by now. 
I mean, using unsterilized fingers and instruments on someone with an infected wound is just basic hygiene 101! It's a good reminder of how far we've come in terms of medicine and healthcare.
. I mean, 'Death By Lightning' is trying too hard to fit 4 months into Garfield's presidency into one show. It feels like they're prioritizing ratings over accuracy 
. And can we talk about how Matthew Macfadyen looks suspiciously out of character as a lunatic assassin? 
. Not to mention the Netflix's usually good historical reenactments are kinda lacking here... still, I suppose it's better than nothing, but let's see more substance, less sensationalism