10. How did the spoil system affect President James Garfield and his Successor Chester A. Authur?
The spoil system led to the assassination of President James Garfield. Charles Guiteau, a disappointed office-seeker, shot Garfield in July 1881. Garfield died from complications related to the bullet wounds two months later. His successor, Chester A. Arthur, was a beneficiary of the spoil system himself as he had previously served as the Collector of the Port of New York, a position he obtained through political connections rather than qualifications. However, Arthur surprised many by distancing himself from the spoil system and advocating for civil service reform. He signed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883, which established competitive examinations for government jobs and limited the number of positions available for political appointment.
The term "spoils system" refers to the practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs. It had a significant impact on both President James Garfield and his successor, Chester A. Arthur. Here's how the spoils system affected them:
1. President James Garfield (1881):
The spoils system played a role in Garfield's presidency, particularly in relation to his assassination. On July 2, 1881, Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, a disappointed office seeker who believed he deserved a government position. Guiteau had been denied a job in the administration even though he supported Garfield during the presidential campaign. The shooting and subsequent medical treatment ultimately led to Garfield's death on September 19, 1881.
2. Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885):
Despite being a beneficiary of the spoils system by serving as the Vice President under Garfield, Chester A. Arthur's presidency was significantly impacted by his predecessor's assassination. After Garfield's death, Arthur took over as president and worked to pass civil service reform legislation to address the deficiencies of the spoils system. This was a surprising shift considering his previous role as a New York politician closely associated with machine politics and patronage. Arthur successfully championed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, which created a merit-based system for government employment and reduced the impact of the spoils system.
In summary, the spoils system had a tragic consequence for President James Garfield as he was assassinated by a disgruntled supporter seeking a government position. However, his successor, Chester A. Arthur, changed his stance on the spoils system, implementing civil service reforms to address the issues associated with patronage and political appointments.
The Spoils System, also known as the Patronage System, was a political practice in the United States where elected officials would appoint their supporters and political allies to government positions, often as a reward for their loyalty. This system had a significant impact on President James Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur.
To understand how the Spoils System affected them, let's first look at President Garfield's presidency. In 1881, Garfield was elected as the 20th President of the United States. Prior to his presidency, Garfield had been a vocal critic of the Spoils System. He believed that appointments to government offices should be based on merit rather than political connections.
However, when Garfield took office, he faced immense pressure from members of his own Republican Party to distribute government jobs and patronage positions to party loyalists. This put Garfield in a difficult position because he wanted to reform the Spoils System, but he also needed to maintain support from his party.
Unfortunately, this conflict came to a tragic end. On July 2, 1881, just a few months into his presidency, Garfield was shot by a man named Charles J. Guiteau, who was disgruntled over not receiving a political appointment. Garfield survived the initial shooting but eventually succumbed to his injuries in September 1881.
Following Garfield's death, Vice President Chester A. Arthur assumed the presidency. Like Garfield, Arthur had initially supported the Spoils System before becoming disillusioned with its corrupt practices. However, Arthur's presidency marked a significant change in his stance.
In response to the tragedy of Garfield's assassination and recognizing the negative consequences of the Spoils System, Arthur became a strong proponent of civil service reform. He pushed for the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883, which established a merit-based system for government appointments and reduced the practice of patronage.
Arthur's support for civil service reform marked a departure from the Spoils System and demonstrated the lasting impact of Garfield's tragic experience on his successor. This reform helped to professionalize the government workforce and diminish the influence of political favoritism in appointment decisions.
In summary, the Spoils System had a significant impact on President James Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur. Garfield's assassination by a disgruntled office-seeker highlighted the dangers and corruption associated with the system, leading Arthur to champion civil service reform as a means to address these issues.