Question

How did the spoils system affect President James Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur? (3-5 sentences, words an eighth grader would use)

Answer 1

The spoils system was a practice where politicians gave jobs to their supporters, often without considering their qualifications. This system affected President James Garfield because he wanted to reform it and hire people based on merit instead. However, this angered some of his supporters, leading to tension in his administration. Garfield was shot by a disgruntled office seeker in 1881, just a few months into his presidency. His successor, Chester A. Arthur, who had benefited from the spoils system, ended up supporting reforms to change the system and improve how government jobs were filled.