Did you know that Chester Arthur was the 21st president of the United States? He served from 1881 to 1885, and was preceded by James A. Garfield and succeeded by Grover Cleveland. Arthur was a lawyer and politician who is best known for his accomplishments during his presidency. In this blog post, we will take a look at the top 5 things Chester Arthur accomplished during his time in office!

Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act

Number one on the list is the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. This act was passed in 1883 and created the United States Civil Service Commission, which established rules for appointments to government jobs. Prior to this act, jobs were given based on political affiliation instead of merit, so the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act was a big step forward in creating a more efficient and effective government.

Tariff Act of 1883

Second on the list is the passage of the Tariff Act of 1883. This act lowered import taxes, which led to increased trade with other countries and helped reduce tensions between farmers and manufacturers.

Washington Monument

Third, Arthur oversaw the completion of the Washington Monument. The monument had been started in 1848 but construction had stopped due to lack of funds. Arthur appropriated $200,000 to finish the monument, and it was finally completed in 1884.

Immigration Act of 1882

Fourth, Arthur signed the Immigration Act of 1882. This act created new rules for immigrants coming into the United States, including a head tax and stricter requirements for those who were considered “undesirable.”

Yellowstone National Park

Finally, fifth on the list is the establishment of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone was established as a national park in 1872, but it wasn’t until Arthur’s presidency that Congress appropriated funds to build roads and other infrastructure in the park. This made Yellowstone more accessible to tourists and helped boost the economy in the surrounding area.