Changes

Jenckes was first elected to the U.S. House in 1863 as a Unionist, defeating Democrat opponent Charles J. Bradley by seventeen percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=714498 RI - Eastern District Race - Apr 01, 1863]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref> He was subsequently re-elected three times by landslide margins.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=261645 Candidate - Thomas A. Jenckes]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref>

Jenckes was first elected to the U.S. House in 1863 as a Unionist, defeating Democrat opponent Charles J. Bradley by seventeen percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=714498 RI - Eastern District Race - Apr 01, 1863]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref> He was subsequently re-elected three times by landslide margins.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=261645 Candidate - Thomas A. Jenckes]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref>

During his House tenure, Jenckes was mostly known for introducing legislation which created the [[Department of Justice]].<ref name=dojorigins>Shugerman, Jed H. (March 21, 2013). [https://law.utexas.edu/colloquia/archive/papers-public/2012-2013/05-02-13_shugerman_creation_of_doj.pdf The Creation of the Department of Justice: Professionalization Without Civil Rights or Civil Service]. ''The University of Texas at Austin School of Law''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref> Contrary to some narratives that suggest this was an effort to bolster [[Reconstruction]] policies and safeguard the constitutional rights of blacks, it was primarily for the purpose of professionalizing legal practice.<ref>Freilach, Jennifer (April 6, 2017). [https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/165620 When Was the Department of Justice Established?] ''History News Network''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref> Indeed, Jenckes was unconcerned with protecting Southern blacks.<ref name=dojorigins/>

During his House tenure, Jenckes was mostly known for introducing legislation which created the [[Department of Justice]].<ref name=dojorigins>Shugerman, Jed H. (March 21, 2013). [https://law.utexas.edu/colloquia/archive/papers-public/2012-2013/05-02-13_shugerman_creation_of_doj.pdf The Creation of the Department of Justice: Professionalization Without Civil Rights or Civil Service]. ''The University of Texas at Austin School of Law''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref> Contrary to some narratives that suggest this was an effort to bolster [[Reconstruction]] policies and safeguard the constitutional rights of blacks, it was primarily for the purpose of professionalizing legal practice.<ref>Freilach, Jennifer (April 6, 2017). [https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/165620 When Was the Department of Justice Established?] ''History News Network''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref> Indeed, Jenckes "paid little attention" to protecting Southern blacks.<ref name=dojorigins/>

Considered a "reformer," Jenckes was an early advocate of civil service reform.<ref name=dojorigins/> The enactment of a [[civil service system]] to replace the traditional [[spoils system]] would prevent Republicans from utilizing patronage to benefit blacks, and it was later implemented via the [[Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act]] years after Jenckes left office.

Considered a "reformer," Jenckes was an early advocate of civil service reform.<ref name=dojorigins/> The enactment of a [[civil service system]] to replace the traditional [[spoils system]] would prevent Republicans from utilizing patronage to benefit blacks, and it was later implemented via the [[Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act]] years after Jenckes left office.