A <em>spoils system</em> ( or patronage system ), is a practice where a political party, after a won election, gives government civil service jobs to its supporters and friends as a reward for their support and working towards victory.
This practice began during the administration of President <em>Andrew Jackson</em>. He was very suspicious of his political opponents and didn't want any of them in his administration. His solution was to remove people from federal jobs and replace them with employees considered loyal to his administration.
Jackson's policy was controversial and bitterly denounced by his political opponents.
