Isabella Carter
The spoils system is a political practice in which the victorious political party gives government jobs to its supporters as a reward for their support. The term spoils was coined by Senator William L. Marcy of New York in 1832 while defending President Andrew Jackson's partisan dismissals from office. While the spoils system is not explicitly mentioned in the US Constitution, it has been a common practice throughout US history, with some arguing that it was necessary to keep party members engaged in the political process. However, the system has also been criticised as a form of corruption, and civil service reforms in the late 19th and 20th centuries have aimed to replace it with a merit-based system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Introduction | The spoils system was introduced during the administration of George Washington, and was favored by members of the Federalist Party. |
| Name Origin | The term "spoils system" comes from a speech by Senator William L. Marcy of New York in 1832, in which he stated, "to the victor belong the spoils of the enemy." |
| Definition | The spoils system is a political practice in which the victorious political party rewards its campaign workers and supporters with government jobs and other favors. |
| Operation | The spoils system involves the hiring and firing of federal workers when presidential administrations change. |
| Supporters' Argument | Supporters of the spoils system argued that it was a necessary method of keeping party members engaged in the political process by presenting tangible rewards for their support. |
| Opponents' Argument | Opponents of the spoils system viewed it as a corrupt use of political patronage, where appointments were based on the needs of the party without regard for the appointee's qualifications. |
| Reform | The Pendleton Act of 1883 established a merit-based system for selecting government officials, with the Civil Service Commission evaluating job candidates on a non-partisan basis. |
| Impact | The Pendleton Act led to the creation of a professional civil service and the rise of the modern bureaucratic state, as well as changes in campaign finance. |
| Limitations | While measures like the Civil Service Commission and the Hatch Act have limited the use of the spoils system, they have not completely eradicated the practice. |
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What You'll Learn
The spoils system's origins
The spoils system, a political practice of rewarding victory with patronage, is commonly associated with President Andrew Jackson. The term itself is attributed to Senator William L. Marcy of New York, who, in 1832, defended Jackson's partisan dismissals from office with the phrase "to the victor belong the spoils".
The spoils system, however, predates Jackson's presidency. Patronage existed in the US during its colonial history, and the modern spoils system was introduced during the administration of George Washington, whose outlook generally favoured members of the Federalist Party. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson have also been accused, to varying degrees, of employing this system.
By the time Jackson took office in 1829, the spoils system was an integral part of the workings of government. Jackson's supporters viewed his use of the spoils system as a necessary reform of the federal government, while his opponents considered it a corrupt use of political patronage. Jackson's implementation of the spoils system was marked by bitter competition between the two-party system, with Jackson assembling a group of unofficial advisers, known as the "Kitchen Cabinet", who met in the White House kitchen.
The spoils system continued to influence policy under Martin Van Buren, who succeeded Jackson as president. Van Buren, a leader of the Albany Regency, used the spoils system to reward members of the Democratic Party machine in New York State and maintain strict party discipline.
The spoils system remained unchallenged until after the Civil War, when its abuses prompted civil service reforms. These reforms aimed to reduce the number of government posts filled by appointment and to award jobs based on merit. The Pendleton Federal Civil Service Act of 1883 provided the basis for the adoption of the merit system in the recruitment of federal officials, leading to the gradual replacement of the spoils system at the federal, state, and city levels of government.
While the spoils system was officially reformed in the late 19th and 20th centuries, some federal positions, such as ambassadorships, have continued to be assigned to political supporters into the present day.
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The Pendleton Act
The Act was named after Senator George Hunt Pendleton of Ohio, a long-time reformer, and was signed into law by President Chester A. Arthur. The Act created a bipartisan Civil Service Commission to evaluate job candidates on their merit rather than their political affiliation. It also made it illegal to fire or demote government officials for political reasons. Additionally, the Act required government employees to be selected through competitive exams, ensuring that federal government jobs were awarded based on merit and not just political support.
The Act also had a significant impact on campaign finance as it forced political parties to seek new sources of campaign funds, such as wealthy donors. Furthermore, it contributed to the creation of a professional civil service and the rise of the modern bureaucratic state. The Pendleton Act, along with other measures like the Hatch Act, played a crucial role in limiting the use of the spoils system in the political process, although it did not completely eradicate the practice.
While the Pendleton Act was a significant step towards civil service reform, it is important to note that it did not immediately end the spoils system. The spoils system continued to exist, particularly in state and local governments, and some federal positions, such as ambassadorships, have been criticized for remaining part of the spoils system even into the present day.
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Assassination of James Garfield
The "spoils system" is a term used for the political practice of playing favourites. It involves filling appointive offices with loyal supporters as a reward for their political services. The term was first used in 1832 by Senator William Marcy of New York, who defended President Andrew Jackson's partisan dismissals from office with the statement, "to the victor belong the spoils of the enemy".
Now, onto the assassination of James A. Garfield, the 20th president of the United States. On July 2, 1881, Garfield was shot at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C. He died on September 19, 1881, in Elberon, New Jersey, two and a half months after being shot. Garfield's assassin was Charles J. Guiteau, who was convicted of the murder and executed by hanging a year after the shooting. Guiteau had been a supporter of Garfield during the 1880 United States presidential election and believed that his campaigning had been vital to Garfield's victory. He felt that, in return, Garfield owed him a diplomatic post in Europe. After months of failed attempts to solicit this reward from the Garfield administration, Guiteau purchased a revolver and began stalking the president.
Garfield's assassination was instrumental in passing the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act on January 16, 1883, which created a bipartisan Civil Service Commission to evaluate job candidates on a nonpartisan merit basis. This was in line with Garfield's own beliefs, as he had called for civil service reform in his inaugural address, thinking it would make the government more efficient.
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Hatch Act
The spoils system is a political practice that involves rewarding the campaign workers and active supporters of the winning political party of an election through appointments to government posts, among other favours. The term "spoils system" was coined in 1832 by Senator William Marcy of New York, who defended President Andrew Jackson's partisan dismissals from office with the statement, "to the victor belong the spoils".
While the spoils system was a common practice in US politics, it was not a part of the US Constitution. The spoils system was introduced during the administration of George Washington, who generally favoured members of the Federalist Party. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson have also been accused of introducing the spoils system to US politics.
To address the abuses of the spoils system, civil service reforms were implemented, including the Pendleton Act of 1883, which established a bipartisan Civil Service Commission to evaluate job candidates on a non-partisan merit basis. The Hatch Act of 1939 further separated civil service from politics by prohibiting federal employees from engaging in certain forms of political activity.
The Hatch Act, formally known as "An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities", is a United States federal law that prohibits civil service employees in the executive branch of the federal government (excluding the president and vice president) from engaging in specific forms of political activity. The Act was named for Senator Carl Hatch of New Mexico and was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1939.
The Hatch Act was amended in 1940 to extend to certain employees of state and local governments whose positions are primarily funded by federal money. This amendment barred political activity by employees of state agencies administering federal unemployment insurance programs and appointed local law enforcement officials overseeing federal grant funds. The Act was further amended in 1993 to allow most civil servants to participate in political activity during their personal time, removing the prohibition on participation in "political management or political campaigns". However, federal employees are still forbidden from using their authority to influence election results, running for office in partisan elections, soliciting or receiving political contributions, and engaging in political activities while on duty or on federal property.
In summary, the spoils system was not a part of the US Constitution but was a political practice that rewarded supporters of the winning political party of an election. The Hatch Act was enacted to separate civil service from politics by prohibiting federal employees from engaging in certain forms of political activity. The Act has been amended several times to balance the rights of civil servants to engage in political activity with the need for fair and effective government.
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The spoils system's legacy
The Spoils System, a practice in which the winning political party of an election rewards its campaign workers and supporters with government posts and other favours, was a common feature of US politics from the 1820s until the late 20th century. The system was based on loyalty and rewarded supporters with government jobs without regard for their qualifications. This often led to inefficiency and corruption, prompting civil service reforms in the late 19th century.
The term "spoils system" was coined by Senator William L. Marcy of New York in 1832, in defence of President Andrew Jackson's partisan dismissals and appointments. Jackson is often credited with inaugurating the system, but historical evidence suggests that patronage was introduced to US politics during the administration of George Washington, and that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams also employed it to a degree.
The spoils system was a common practice in US politics until the late 19th century, when it was increasingly criticised as corrupt and inefficient. The system's abuses prompted civil service reforms, culminating in the Pendleton Act of 1883, which established a bipartisan Civil Service Commission to evaluate job candidates on merit rather than party loyalty. While the Pendleton Act initially covered few jobs, it allowed the President to transfer positions into the system, and by 1900, most federal jobs were handled through civil service.
The spoils system was further weakened by the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibited federal employees from engaging in many political activities. By the late 20th century, merit systems had almost completely replaced the spoils system at the federal, state, and city levels of government. However, the practice survived much longer in some states, counties, and municipalities, and some federal positions, such as ambassadorships, have continued to be assigned to political supporters into the present day.
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Frequently asked questions
The Spoils System is the name given to the practice of hiring and firing federal workers when presidential administrations changed in the 19th century. It is also known as the patronage system.
No, the Spoils System was not part of the US Constitution. It was a practice that came into existence during the administration of President Andrew Jackson, who took office in 1829.
The Spoils System was criticised for being a corrupt use of political patronage. It led to appointments that were based on the needs of the party, without regard for the appointee's qualifications or ability to do the job. This bred corruption and inefficiency in the government.
The Spoils System was reformed following the assassination of President James Garfield by a disgruntled job seeker in 1881. This led to the passage of the Pendleton Act in 1883, which established a merit-based system of selecting government officials. The Act also created a bipartisan Civil Service Commission to evaluate job candidates on a non-partisan merit basis.
No, the Pendleton Act did not completely eradicate the Spoils System. While it led to major changes in campaign finance and the creation of a professional civil service, some federal positions, such as ambassadorships, continued to be assigned to political supporters.
