Question

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

Answer 1

The Spoils system is a model for setting up civil offices where employees are replaced by individuals chosen by the party that wins the election. This type of system does not take into account the capacity of individuals, but their connection with the party. President Garfield was murdered by a civil servant just for this cause. When Arthur, the vice president, took over, he chose not to keep that system, opting to sign thePendleton Act of 1883, which ensured the insertion of the merit-charge model.