President James Giteau's Spoils System

Improved Essays
Nine Thirty AM, July 2nd, 1881. President James A. Garfield was shot by Charles Giteau, a man angered after being rejected for a position in government. Giteau, a deranged supporter of Garfield, believed he deserved to be in Garfield's administration because he gave speeches during his campaign; however, after being rejected by Garfield, Giteau took action. The spoils system, which increased in popularity during President Andrew Jackson’s terms, gave government positions to those who supported their political party during the election allowing the government to become corrupt. After the assassination, the government began to realize a new system was necessary, the Pendleton Civil Service Act created laws with new requirements to ensure those up for the federal positions had the proper education and greater professionalism. This act was effective at accomplishing reform and progressive goals not only due to the fact that it ended the practice of the spoils system, allowing civil service positions to be filled based off merit, but it also reduced government corruption while increasing efficiency.
The Pendleton Civil Service Act ensured those hired were qualified reducing government incompetence. It was sponsored by Senator Pendleton of Ohio and it regulated those who were hired and ensured they had certain qualifications,
…show more content…
Unfortunately, it took the tragedy of the assassination of a president to realize there was an issue in government with the current system of fulfilment of government jobs. It shed light on the fact that there was unrest over those who got selected for the position. Once President Arthur was inaugurated, he began to pass laws to solve the issue starting with the Pendleton Civil Service Act. Twelve O’Clock, September 20 1881. Garfield's successor, President Chester A. Arthur, is sworn into

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Andrew Jackson, a strong-willed, stubborn, selfish man who only listened to himself and ignored the opinions of others, won his way into presidency during the election of 1828. Throughout his presidency Andrew Jackson made some horrible choices, that affected the country in negative ways. People were killed, orders were ignored, laws were broken, amendments were violated, all because of the choices he made. Even before his presidency he was a cruel man, that deserved punishment. Thomas Jefferson states that Andrew Jackson “could never speak on account of the rashness of his feelings.…

    • 1208 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    4. Taking over the presidency in 1901 after the assassination of William McKinley, he quickly assured America that he would not take any drastic measures. 5. He then demanded a “Square Deal” that would address his primary concerns for the era; the three C’s: control of corporations, consumer protection, and conservation. 6.…

    • 3652 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    President Garfield was assassinated on July 2nd, 1881, only a few short months after he was sworn into office (Life and Death in the White House). He was shot by Charles Guiteau, who was a distressed man. Garfield fought a major battle of blood poisoning after he was shot, but unfortunately lost the battle. He died on September 19th, 1881.…

    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One of the most well-known acts of Jackson’s doing was the forced relocation of Native American tribes from the Southeast by way of the Indian Removal act. The Trail of Tears is a reminder of the cruelty he indorsed towards those not Caucasian. He did not see them as deserving the full rights he and other white Americans were afforded, regardless of the fact that America was occupied by them centuries prior to Europe’s arrival. I highly disagree with the resettlement he forced upon the Native Americans. It was their land, yet he forced hundreds of innocent Native women, men, and children to trek upon miles of unknown land with no protections from the harsh elements at all.…

    • 700 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Presidential Power Dbq

    • 1175 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Many historians believe that the power of the President has decreased over time. This assumption usually results from the President’s inability to line item veto, or rejecting individual provisions of a bill. However, after much reevaluation, many other historians argue that the power of the president has increased over time because of his unique powers that he does not share with Congress. A key role model during this increase of power is Andrew Jackson, symbolizing the expandment of presidential authority due to his significant enlargement of the use of vetoes. Mandates, or official orders from the President to do something, also symbolize an independent expansion of presidential power.…

    • 1175 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    How has the power of the presidency changed over time? Drawing upon some historical examples, explain how presidents have acted to secure more power. What can the modern president do to overcome congressional, judicial, or bureaucratic opposition? How is a more powerful president beneficial/detrimental? Reference course readings, lectures, and examples as appropriate.…

    • 966 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In 1871, an era of political machines and patronage, Arthur was named to the powerful position of customs collector for the Port of New York. He later was removed from the job by President Rutherford Hayes in an attempt to reform the spoils system. Elected to the vice presidency in 1880, Arthur…

    • 552 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Civil Service Act Dbq

    • 232 Words
    • 1 Pages

    The law was signed into action by Chester A. Arthur. James Garfield was killed because of the spoils system because he did not give a job to Charles Guiteau. Arthur being the Vice President took over and signed the law into action. C is incorrect. Rutherford Hayes was in support of civil service reform.…

    • 232 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The fierce election of 1828, featured former president John Quincy Adams against the war hero Andrew Jackson. Jackson felt cheated due to the "corrupt bargain" during the election of 1824,and has decided to take one more shot at presidency. Jackson, the candidate who gained popular support from both the West and South, arrived victorious at the conclusion to the election of 1828. Despite his political campaign, some historians regard Jackson 's presidency as "great," which in terms places him among with the top tier of American presidents. Andrew Jackson, the seventh president, in my opinion doesn 't fit on that magnitude of placement.…

    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Numerous of American promoters of justice, writers, thinkers, inventors, and entrepreneurs drive to be hark back for their undertakings during the Gilded Age. In the United States during the first few years of the Gilded Age was a great social change and economic growth. As the years went by between the dawn of the new century and Reconstruction, suburbanization, industrial development, the rise of huge incorporations, the manufacture of countless transcontinental railroads and the modernizations in science and technology. Subsequently, the beginning years of the new century in which trailed be situated as dominated by progressive: (during the Gilded Age was ahead of its time movement that endeavored to the compensation some of the ill that had increased).…

    • 529 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Civil War Expansion System

    • 1368 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The American Civil War not only brought about vast political and military change to the nation, but also created an opportunity for vast economic expansion within the federal government. A prime example of this expansion being the creation of the Civil War pension system. Although federal aid for families who had lost their source of income to military service can be tracked to colonial era, it was not until 1862 the government formed a strong relationship with veterans and their dependents. The pension bill that was passed by the Republican controlled Congress in February of 1862, was officially signed into law by President Lincoln on July 14, 1862, and issued in a new era of federal aid. This first pension act awarded aid to men who could…

    • 1368 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Jfk Assassination Essay

    • 1199 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In the years America has had a democracy, four assassinations of the president have transpired. First, Abraham Lincoln in 1865, followed by James A. Garfield 20 years later and next, William McKinley. The most astounding assassination, in 1963, when Lee Harvey Oswald shot John Fitzgerald Kennedy during a motorcade through Dallas, Texas while traveling in an open-top convertible. JFK continues to rank among the most beloved presidents of all time- for raising minimum wage, increasing Social Security benefits and beginning the United States’ space program. As a very successful military man and an eminent president, his assassination on November 22, 1963 stunned the world.…

    • 1199 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Based on the excerpt, the Pendleton Act changed the way in which the government hired new employees, by people that wanted to work had to undergo a fitness test to see if the applicants are qualified for the job they applied for. Also, the offices, place, and employments arranged or to be arranged in classes that shall be filled by sections according to grade from among those graded highest as a results of such competitive examinations. Supporters of the Pendleton Act felt it was important because it solved problems that they were worried about, family living on the property, if the family made improvements to the land, then the family would own the land for free. Also the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887, took away the land from the Native Americans,…

    • 178 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Great Essays

    Politicians deemed a forced alliance of interests to be necessary if executives were implement their pet policies and programs in the face of legislative resistance (Ruhil pg. 28). The transition from the Spoils system to the Merit system was based on the Pendleton Act in 1883. Senator Pendleton introduced a bill to regulate the civil service and to…

    • 1232 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    When we as Americans look back at our past, we are often overwhelmed with all of the significant events and people that shaped this great nation. When we take a closer look we can pick out a few that shaped this nation more than others. This country was founded over 200 years ago which gives us plenty to analyze, however, Andrew Jackson is one person in particular who undeniably played a huge role in shaping our country in the 1800s. A man of humble beginning that rose to prominence on the national stage and enacted his policies in a nation. Andrew Jackson was born on March 15, 1776, on the border of North and South Carolina.…

    • 1100 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays