Spoils System

Definition

The spoils system refers to the practice of a political party, when it wins an election, rewarding its supporters with government jobs and positions of power. This was a common practice in American politics during the 19th century, particularly under the presidency of Andrew Jackson.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The spoils system was a key feature of the rise of American democracy during the Jacksonian era, as it allowed for the increased participation of the common people in the political process.
2. The spoils system was widely criticized for leading to political corruption and inefficiency in government, as it prioritized political loyalty over competence and qualifications.
3. The spoils system was a major issue in the postbellum era, as it was seen as a source of political corruption and a barrier to effective governance.
4. The spoils system was closely linked to the issue of tariffs, as political parties often used the distribution of government jobs to maintain their power and influence.
5. The movement for civil service reform, which sought to replace the spoils system with a merit-based system, was a key political issue in the late 19th century.

Review Questions

• Explain how the spoils system was a key feature of the rise of American democracy during the Jacksonian era.
  • The spoils system, where the winning political party rewarded its supporters with government jobs, was a central part of the Jacksonian era's rise of American democracy. By allowing more common people to participate in the political process and gain positions of power, the spoils system helped to make the government more accessible and responsive to the will of the people. This was a significant shift from the previous era, where political power was more concentrated among the elite. However, the spoils system also led to concerns about political corruption and inefficiency, as loyalty to the party often took precedence over competence and qualifications.
• Describe the role of the spoils system in the political corruption and inefficiency of the postbellum era.
  • In the postbellum era, the spoils system was widely criticized for contributing to political corruption and inefficiency in government. By prioritizing political loyalty over merit and qualifications, the spoils system allowed for the distribution of government jobs to be used as a means of maintaining power and influence by the dominant political parties. This led to concerns that the government was being run for the benefit of the political elite, rather than the public good. The movement for civil service reform, which sought to replace the spoils system with a merit-based system, was a key political issue during this period, as reformers sought to address the perceived problems caused by the spoils system.
• Analyze the connection between the spoils system, the issue of tariffs, and the key political issues of the late 19th century.
  • The spoils system was closely linked to the issue of tariffs, as political parties often used the distribution of government jobs to maintain their power and influence. Tariffs were a major political issue in the late 19th century, with the Republican and Democratic parties taking different positions on the matter. The spoils system allowed the dominant party to reward its supporters with government jobs, which in turn helped to maintain its political power and influence. This, in turn, allowed the party to pursue its preferred policies on issues like tariffs. The movement for civil service reform, which sought to replace the spoils system with a merit-based system, was seen as a way to address the perceived problems caused by the spoils system and its connection to other key political issues of the time, such as tariffs and the role of government in the economy.

Related terms

Patronage: The support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or influential individual bestows on another.

Nepotism: The practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.

Civil Service Reform: The movement to establish a merit-based civil service system in the United States, in contrast to the spoils system.