What was the state of America before president James A. Garfield was assassinated?

Before President James A. Garfield was assassinated in 1881, America was experiencing significant social and economic changes, including the effects of rapid industrialization and urbanization. The Gilded Age saw a growing divide between the wealthy elite and the working class, with issues like labor unrest and corruption in politics becoming increasingly prominent. Garfield himself was advocating for civil service reform and addressing these social issues, but his presidency was cut short by his assassination, which highlighted the tensions of the era. The nation was grappling with the challenges of modernization while still dealing with the aftermath of the Civil War.