How did the spoils system affect president James Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur?
yup that really helps writeacher # SARCASM. IDK IF I SPELLED IT RIGHT.
The spoils system, also known as patronage, was a practice in the United States where elected officials, particularly the President, would appoint their supporters or members of their political party to government positions as a form of reward. It had a significant impact on President James Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur.
To understand how the spoils system affected them, we need to delve into their backgrounds:
1. James Garfield: Before becoming President, Garfield served in the House of Representatives for nearly 18 years. He was a reformer and disliked the spoils system. However, once elected president, he still faced pressure from within his own Republican Party to maintain the practice due to party loyalty and the desire to reward supporters.
2. Chester A. Arthur: Arthur was selected by Garfield as his Vice President. He had a long history of political affiliation with the New York Republican political machine, known as the Stalwarts, who supported the spoils system. Consequently, Arthur was widely associated with this system and was viewed as a supporter.
Now, let's see how the spoils system affected them:
1. James Garfield:
a. Appointments: After Garfield assumed office, he faced enormous pressure to provide jobs to his Republican allies and supporters, including those affiliated with the powerful Stalwarts. This put him in a difficult position as he wanted to reform the civil service system and end the spoils system, but he also needed party support.
b. Charles J. Guiteau: In an unfortunate turn of events, President Garfield was assassinated on July 2, 1881, by Charles J. Guiteau, an individual who believed he deserved a political appointment. Guiteau's crime elevated concerns about the spoils system, as his motivations were partly rooted in the belief that he was entitled to a position due to his political support.
2. Chester A. Arthur:
a. Unexpected Transformation: Following Garfield's assassination, Arthur unexpectedly became President. Despite his earlier association with the spoils system, Arthur changed his stance. Having witnessed the detrimental consequences of the patronage system with Garfield's assassination, he supported civil service reform and sought to distance himself from the spoils system.
b. Pendleton Act: Arthur's presidency witnessed the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883. This legislation sought to reform the civil service system by mandating that government positions be awarded based on merit rather than political favors. This marked a significant shift away from the spoils system and towards a more merit-based approach.
In summary, the spoils system affected President James Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur in different ways. Garfield faced the challenge of reconciling his desire for reform with the pressures to reward his supporters. On the other hand, Arthur, who originally supported the spoils system, changed his stance after Garfield's assassination, advocating for civil service reform and ultimately signing the Pendleton Act into law.
The failure of the spoils system brought on tragic consequences when in 1881 a frustrated office-seeker shot President James Garfield (1881) in a train station. Garfield's successor, Chester Arthur (1881–1885), though himself a creature of the spoils system, worked to dismantle it. The Pendleton Act of 1883 initiated reform of the system by establishing a federal Civil Service Commission and creating a class of government workers (14,000 out of a total of 100,000) who now had to take an examination to be awarded a government job. Though limited in size, the Civil Service Commission grew in later years.
The system was further refined in the twentieth century. To further separate civil service from politics, the Hatch Act (1940) forbid civil servants from political campaigning. The Hatch Act was revised in 1993 to allow most civil servants to participate in political activity on their personal time. Measures like the Civil Service Commission and the Hatch Act have been successful in limiting the use of the spoils system in the political process, but they haven't eradicated the practice. The spoils system is still (unofficially) practiced in some federal, state, and local government offices.
Ah, the spoils system, a tale as old as politics itself! Now, let me put on my jester's hat and entertain you with this historical comedy.
Once upon a time, in the land of Oval Office, President James Garfield ascended to power. He believed in the noble principle of appointing qualified individuals based on merit and competence! But alas, the spoils system was like that clingy ex who just wouldn't go away.
Garfield's predecessor, Chester A. Arthur, had been a firm believer in this system. The spoils system was like a political piñata, filled with all the juicy government jobs, waiting to be smashed and distributed to the loyal supporters of the victorious party.
However, when Garfield took office, he had a different idea. He wanted to move away from the spoils system and appoint people based on their abilities rather than their political connections. Oh, how he yearned for a government without clowns!
But alas, Garfield's intentions did not sit well with all. On a fateful day in 1881, a deranged office-seeker, frustrated by not receiving a position, shot Garfield. Oh, the irony! The spoils system struck back with a vengeance!
Now, enter Chester A. Arthur, Garfield's successor. Upon witnessing the tragic consequences of the spoils system, Arthur was no longer its biggest fan. He transformed from a jolly supporter of political patronage to a reform-minded president. It was like the clown suddenly turned into a serious actor!
Under Arthur's administration, efforts were made to reform the civil service and reduce the influence of the spoils system. It was a noble attempt to defend the government from being overrun by overqualified jesters and underqualified buffoons.
So, in the end, the spoils system affected both Garfield and Arthur. Garfield tragically lost his life due to its gruesome implications, while Arthur became a reluctant advocate for reform. It just goes to show that even in the realm of politics, humor can have unfortunate consequences.
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