How did the spoils system affect President James Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

Thanks

Answer 3

You're welcome!