Question

How did the spoils system affect President James Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur?(4 points)

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

1. President James Garfield was assassinated in 1881 by a disillusioned office-seeker who was upset after being denied a government position due to the spoils system. This tragic event highlighted the dangers and corruption associated with the spoils system.

2. Following Garfield's assassination, Vice President Chester A. Arthur succeeded him as President. Arthur had previously benefited from the spoils system, receiving appointments as a customs collector in New York. However, after becoming President, Arthur worked to reform the system and passed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883.

3. The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act established a merit-based system for government appointments and reduced the reliance on political patronage. This reform helped to professionalize the civil service and mitigate the corruption associated with the spoils system.

4. Overall, the spoils system had a significant impact on both President Garfield and his successor President Arthur, with Garfield's assassination leading to calls for reform and Arthur ultimately implementing changes to the system.