Garfield detested Slavery and fought on the side of the Union in the Civil War, he reached the rank of major general. After the war Garfield believed southern plantations should be broken up and given to the former slaves who had worked there, unfortunately that didn't happen. Garfield left the military when he was elected to represent Ohio in Congress. He served in Congress for 18 years. Garfield became president in 1881, was socially very liberal and appointed African-Americans to offices, he believed black people should have complete equality with whites.