Using The Spoils System

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Back in the 19th century members were appointed to office using the spoils system, which pretty much means after winning an election, the political party or president gives government jobs to its supporters, friends, and relatives as a reward for working toward victory, and as an incentive to keep working for the party. After people became fed up with the spoils system and a disappointed officer assassinated President Garfield they started using the merits system. The merits system is the process of promoting and hiring government employees based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on political connections. The spoils system was developed about 150 years ago. When Andrew Jackson was elected as President he removed over 900 government