how did the spoils system affect president james garfield and his chester a arthur
The spoils system, which was prevalent during the 19th century, allowed elected officials to appoint their supporters, often without regard to their qualifications, to government positions in exchange for political support. President James Garfield was a strong opponent of the spoils system and advocated for civil service reform.
However, after Garfield was assassinated in 1881, his Vice President Chester A. Arthur, who had previously been a part of the corrupt New York political machine, became president. Arthur surprised many by supporting and signing the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, which established a merit-based system for federal employment and marked a significant shift away from the spoils system.
Overall, the spoils system affected both Garfield and Arthur, but in different ways. Garfield's opposition to the spoils system ultimately led to his assassination, while Arthur's presidency was marked by his support for civil service reform, despite his previous ties to the corrupt political machine.