At the beginning of our government the power resided in the hands of the white upperclass men that were the well-educated and wealthy masterminds of the American Revolution. (Dresang, 2009, p. 15) These men placed an emphasis on both the political loyalty and the competence of the individual, (Dresang, 2009, pp. 17) but as the founding fathers died so did their ways of management as greed and the consolidation of power were often more attractive than keeping with tradition and with the election of Andrew Jackson the era of patronage was ushered in. (Dresang, 2009, p. 17) Through the patronage system eventually gave way to the merit system both are now considered relics of a bygone era of American politics and the impact of these systems transformed
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18) it was during the nineteenth century that the spoils system was visibly used by Lincoln during his presidency, that led to the impeachment of Andrew Johnson when he defied the Tenure of Office Act, and was involved in the tarnished presidencies of Grant and Hayes. (Dresang, 2009, p. 19) Many of the advantages of patronage lie in rewarding political loyalty rather than competence, which is an effect that is clearly illustrated in post-Antebellum America where Dresang says, “conflict, corruption and incompetence paralyzed the government,” which serves to highlight just how damaging the use of the spoils system was to our government and how it squandered potential. (2009, p. …show more content…
Bush’s Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in 2007 and Kentucky governor Ernie Fletcher in 2006. (Dresang, 2009, pp. 26-27) States like Georgia, Florida and Texas have limited the merit system and Kentucky experienced an attempt to return the state to the patronage system. (Dresang, 2009, p. 27) But perhaps the most obvious remnant of the patronage system lies in the development of the contracting system. The private business sector is perhaps the most obvious beneficiary of the contracting system and it’s a way for the government to circumvent hiring new civil servants or creating new agencies. (Dresang, 2009, p. 27) While a pro to this system is that it can save money as some vendors may be able to do projects at a lower cost and hire the people with the particular expertise it does have the drawback of often appearing as rewarding campaign contributors or payoffs. (Dresang, 2009, p.
18) it was during the nineteenth century that the spoils system was visibly used by Lincoln during his presidency, that led to the impeachment of Andrew Johnson when he defied the Tenure of Office Act, and was involved in the tarnished presidencies of Grant and Hayes. (Dresang, 2009, p. 19) Many of the advantages of patronage lie in rewarding political loyalty rather than competence, which is an effect that is clearly illustrated in post-Antebellum America where Dresang says, “conflict, corruption and incompetence paralyzed the government,” which serves to highlight just how damaging the use of the spoils system was to our government and how it squandered potential. (2009, p. …show more content…
Bush’s Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in 2007 and Kentucky governor Ernie Fletcher in 2006. (Dresang, 2009, pp. 26-27) States like Georgia, Florida and Texas have limited the merit system and Kentucky experienced an attempt to return the state to the patronage system. (Dresang, 2009, p. 27) But perhaps the most obvious remnant of the patronage system lies in the development of the contracting system. The private business sector is perhaps the most obvious beneficiary of the contracting system and it’s a way for the government to circumvent hiring new civil servants or creating new agencies. (Dresang, 2009, p. 27) While a pro to this system is that it can save money as some vendors may be able to do projects at a lower cost and hire the people with the particular expertise it does have the drawback of often appearing as rewarding campaign contributors or payoffs. (Dresang, 2009, p.