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Who opposed the spoils system?
congressional party chieftains
Eradicating the spoils system became a major crusade in the 1870s, championed by good-government reformers, cautiously advanced by presidents, and vehemently opposed by congressional party chieftains.
Who were the stalwarts and Halfbreeds?
The main issue that divided the Stalwarts and the Half-Breeds was political patronage. The Stalwarts were in favor of political machines and spoils system-style patronage, while the Half-Breeds, led by Maine senator James G. Blaine, were in favor of civil service reform and a merit system.
Where did the term Mugwump come from?
The jocular word “mugwump”, noted as early as 1832, is from Algonquian mugquomp, “important person, kingpin” (from mugumquomp, “war leader”), implying that they were “sanctimonious” or “holier-than-thou” in holding themselves aloof from party politics.
What replaced the spoils system?
The Pendleton Federal Civil Service Act of 1883 provided the initial basis for the adoption of the merit system in the recruitment of federal officials, and by the late 20th century merit systems had almost completely replaced the spoils system at the federal, state, and city levels of government.
Who did the spoils system benefit?
In politics and government, a spoils system (also known as a patronage system) is a practice in which a political party, after winning an election, gives government jobs to its supporters, friends (cronyism), and relatives (nepotism) as a reward for working toward victory, and as an incentive to keep working for the …
Who was involved in the Pendleton Act?
Garfield in 1881. The 47th Congress passed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act during its lame duck session and President Chester A. Arthur, himself a former spoilsman, signed the bill into law….Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act.
| Citations | |
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| Statutes at Large | ch. 27, 22 Stat. 403 |
| Legislative history |
What does Mugwump mean in English?
1 : a bolter from the Republican party in 1884. 2 : a person who is independent (as in politics) or who remains undecided or neutral.
What is meant by merit system?
: a system by which appointments and promotions in the civil service are based on competence rather than political favoritism.
Was William Marcy a Jackson supporter?
A Jackson supporter, Sen. William L. Marcy, was responsible for providing a name for this practice when he declared, “To the victor belong the spoils.” The spoils system remained an important part of the political landscape until the civil service reforms toward the end of the century.