How did the spoils system affect President James Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur?
(4 points)
To understand how the spoils system affected President James Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur, it's important to first define what the spoils system is. The spoils system refers to the political practice of rewarding supporters and party members with government jobs and contracts after winning an election.
1. James Garfield: Garfield became the 20th President of the United States in 1881. He initially had a positive view of the spoils system and believed in its usefulness for rewarding loyal party members. However, Garfield's view began to change when he faced challenges in appointing qualified individuals to government positions. He believed that appointments should be based on merit and qualifications rather than political patronage.
2. Chester A. Arthur: Arthur served as the Vice President under Garfield and assumed the presidency after his assassination in 1881. Prior to becoming president, Arthur had been a part of New York's political machine, where the spoils system was prevalent. However, after Garfield's assassination, Arthur experienced a change in perspective similar to Garfield. He became a vocal advocate for civil service reform, which aimed to replace the spoils system with a merit-based system for hiring government employees.
In summary, the spoils system initially influenced both Garfield's and Arthur's involvement in politics, as they witnessed the benefits and drawbacks of rewarding party loyalists with government positions. However, the negative consequences and challenges they faced led them to reevaluate their support for the spoils system, with both presidents ultimately favoring civil service reform.