What Was The Spoils System

Definition of the spoils system. The postelection practice of rewarding loyal supporters of the winning candidates and party with appointive public offices.

The Spoils System Andrew Jackson

Soon after the pendleton civil service reform act which required the hiring of civil workers to be apolitical was passed.

What was the spoils system. Andrew jackson s spoils system is the most obvious way in which he broke his promise to fight washington corruption. In other words the winner takes all. The spoils system also called the patronage system was an arrangement that employed and promoted civil servants government officials who were friends and supporters of the political group in power.

The spoils system was not reformed until 1881 when a disgruntled office seeker assassinated president james garfield. The spoils system involves political activity by public employees in support of their party and the employees removal from office if their party loses the election. Spoils system also called patronage system practice in which the political party winning an election rewards its campaign workers and other active supporters by appointment to government posts and with other favours.

The word spoils means incidental secondary benefits reaped by a winner. N chiefly us the practice of. The spoils system developed into the firing of political enemies and.

In politics and government a spoils system also known as a patronage system is a practice in which a political party after winning an election gives government civil service jobs to its supporters friends and relatives as a reward for working toward victory and as an incentive to keep working for the party as opposed to a merit system where offices are awarded on the basis of some. Spoils system definition is a practice of regarding public offices and their emoluments as plunder for members of the victorious party. Spoils system synonyms spoils system pronunciation spoils system translation english dictionary definition of spoils system.

At least that s what andrew jackson thought after he won the 1828 presidential election. Garfield died on september 19 1881 11 weeks after being shot by charles guiteau at a washington d c. To the victor goes the spoils.

Under the spoils system jackson replaced many upstanding civil service agents approximately 10 of federally appointed positions with his own friends and supporters many of whom brought incompetence to their posts. The spoils system was criticized for decades but what ultimately led to its reform was a shockingly violent act in the summer of 1881 the shooting of president james garfield by a disappointed and deranged office seeker.

Jackson As President The Spoils System The Democrats