Changes

The big issue in 1880 was the "spoils system," which was an important part of the political "machines" common at the time.  The view of many politicians, from President Andrew Jackson to President Ulysses S. Grant, was that the victor in an election should be able to "clean house" and install his supporters in the new Administration.  Under the "spoils system" or "patronage system," the winner of an election gets to hand out government jobs to his supporters.  "To the victors go the spoils," is the famous saying for this.   

The big issue in 1880 was the "spoils system," which was an important part of the political "machines" common at the time.  The view of many politicians, from President Andrew Jackson to President Ulysses S. Grant, was that the victor in an election should be able to "clean house" and install his supporters in the new Administration.  Under the "spoils system" or "patronage system," the winner of an election gets to hand out government jobs to his supporters.  "To the victors go the spoils," is the famous saying for this.   

The "Stalwarts" in the Republican Party favored the spoils system, whereby the new president would fire the holdovers from the prior Administration, and everyone in the new Administration would then be in agreement with the new leader.  These Stalwarts included former Radical Republicans.  Opposed to the Stalwarts were moderates like Blaine and Garfield, who wanted a civil service system where a government employee would keep his job even after a new leader is elected.  They sought so-called "reform" of the spoils system to stop the corruption that a spoils system might lead to.

The "Stalwarts" in the Republican Party favored the spoils system, whereby the new president would fire the holdovers from the prior Administration, and everyone in the new Administration would then be in agreement with the new leader.  These Stalwarts included former Radical Republicans.  Opposed to the Stalwarts were moderates like Blaine and Garfield, who wanted a civil service system whereby a government employee would keep his job even after a new leader is elected.  They sought so-called "reform" of the spoils system to stop the corruption that a spoils system might lead to.

After many "ballots" (mini-elections) among the delegates at the 1880 Republican National Convention, Blaine realized he could not win.  He and Sherman then withdrew their candidacies and threw their support behind a "dark horse" candidate, James Garfield.  At first Garfield refused to be a candidate, but delegates elected (nominated) him anyway, on the 36th ballot!  The delegates had met for days in a hot summer convention center in Chicago, without air conditioning, and debated and voted 36 times before nominating James Garfield, who was a former Union general and a current Republican congressman.

After many "ballots" (mini-elections) among the delegates at the 1880 Republican National Convention, Blaine realized he could not win.  He and Sherman then withdrew their candidacies and threw their support behind a "dark horse" candidate, James Garfield.  At first Garfield refused to be a candidate, but delegates elected (nominated) him anyway, on the 36th ballot!  The delegates had met for days in a hot summer convention center in Chicago, without air conditioning, and debated and voted 36 times before nominating James Garfield, who was a former Union general and a current Republican congressman.