How did the spoils system affect president james Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur? Explain in 2-4 sentences
1 answer
The spoils system, which involved rewarding political supporters with government positions, directly impacted President James Garfield as he faced pressure to appoint certain individuals to key positions. This ultimately led to Garfield's assassination by a disgruntled office seeker. After Garfield's death, his successor Chester A. Arthur recognized the need for civil service reform and championed the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, which greatly reduced the spoils system's influence on government appointments.