Answer:
Unlike the opposition Federalist Party, the Democratic-Republican Party contended that government did not have the right to adopt additional powers to fulfill its duties under the Constitution. ... The Democratic-Republicans were somewhat more egalitarian than the Federalists were.
The act mandates that most positions within the federal government should be awarded on the basis of merit instead of political patronage. ... The Pendleton Civil Service Act provided for the selection of some government employees by competitive exams, rather than ties to politicians or political affiliation.
C - Both groups were treated unfairly and unequally compared with men of their classes.
This is the most correct answer in this case as this was very common and was something that women during the industrial revolution experienced quite frequently, regardless of their class.