How did the spoils system affect President James Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur?
The spoils system had a significant impact on President James Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur, who both faced corruption and cronyism during their presidencies.
During Garfield's presidency, he attempted to reform the spoils system by appointing qualified civil servants instead of political supporters to government positions. However, this led to conflict with powerful party boss Roscoe Conkling, who wanted to maintain the traditional patronage system.
In 1881, Garfield was assassinated by a disgruntled office seeker who was angry about not receiving a government job. This tragedy highlighted the dangers of the spoils system and sparked public outrage.
Following Garfield's death, Vice President Chester A. Arthur became president and surprised many by initiating civil service reform. He signed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, which established a merit-based system for government appointments and restricted the use of political patronage.
However, despite his efforts, Arthur was still associated with the spoils system. He had previously been a staunch advocate for patronage and had benefitted greatly from it during his career, which tarnished his credibility as a reformer.
Overall, the spoils system had a lasting impact on both Garfield and Arthur's presidencies, with Garfield tragically losing his life in an attempt to reform it and Arthur struggling to distance himself from its corrupt legacy.
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The spoils system, also known as the patronage system, was a practice in which public office holders appointed individuals to government positions as a reward for their political support. This system had a significant impact on President James Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur.
1. James Garfield: President Garfield was elected in 1880, and he initially supported the spoils system. However, his views changed after his election when he realized the system's negative consequences. Garfield believed that appointments should be made based on merit rather than political favoritism.
2. Assassination of James Garfield: Charles Guiteau, a disappointed office-seeker, assassinated President Garfield in July 1881. This tragic event led to increased public outrage against the spoils system and its perceived corruption.
3. Chester A. Arthur: As Garfield's vice president, Chester A. Arthur became president after Garfield's death. Arthur was a strong advocate of the spoils system before taking office. However, the assassination of his predecessor greatly affected his stance on the issue.
4. Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act: In response to Garfield's assassination, public pressure mounted for reform. In 1883, President Arthur signed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act into law. This act established the United States Civil Service Commission and made it mandatory for certain government positions to be filled based on merit through competitive exams.
5. Merit-based appointments: The Pendleton Act significantly reduced the influence of the spoils system, as it required appointments to be based on qualifications rather than political connections. This marked a significant shift in the way government positions were filled and reduced corruption in the civil service.
In conclusion, the spoils system had a profound impact on President James Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur. Garfield's assassination brought increased attention to the corrupt nature of the spoils system, leading to the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act during Arthur's presidency. This reform significantly shifted the process of appointment towards merit-based selection rather than political patronage.