Changes

The experience of Reconstruction among Democrats, and the inexperience of a party at the crossroads among Republicans led to a general consensus throughout the nation to reform the spoils system.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/16/pendleton-act-inaugurates-us-civil-service-system-jan-16-1883-340488 Pendleton Act inaugurates U.S. civil service system, Jan. 16, 1883], by ANDREW GLASS, ''[[Politico]]'', 01/16/2018</ref> Democrats leaped at the prospect of controlling government offices without winning elections through a so-called "professional career bureaucracy." It seemed like a logical, "[[Progressive era|progressive]]" reform.

The experience of Reconstruction among Democrats, and the inexperience of a party at the crossroads among Republicans led to a general consensus throughout the nation to reform the spoils system.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/16/pendleton-act-inaugurates-us-civil-service-system-jan-16-1883-340488 Pendleton Act inaugurates U.S. civil service system, Jan. 16, 1883], by ANDREW GLASS, ''[[Politico]]'', 01/16/2018</ref> Democrats leaped at the prospect of controlling government offices without winning elections through a so-called "professional career bureaucracy." It seemed like a logical, "[[Progressive era|progressive]]" reform.

The immediate impetus for ending patronage and introducing civil service reform was the assassination of President [[James Garfield]] by a disgruntled low level campaign worker who was by-passed and felt Garfield owed him a job. The spoils system was rife with [[corruption]] and [[cronyism]]. Under the spoils system when voters rebelled and elected the opposition, everyone in an incumbent political machine lost their government job. The see-saw wholesale turnover of government workers created instability in the institutions of government.

The immediate impetus for ending patronage and introducing civil service reform was the assassination of President [[James Garfield]] by a disgruntled low level campaign worker who was by-passed and felt Garfield owed him a job. The spoils system was rife with [[corruption]] and [[cronyism]]. Under the spoils system, when voters rebelled and elected the opposition, everyone in an incumbent political machine lost their government job. The see-saw wholesale turnover of government workers created instability in the institutions of government.

[[Teddy Roosevelt]]'s rise to national prominence as a "progressive" reformer began with implementing civil service reform and ending the patronage system in the New York City Police Department, and later as governor by implementing a state level civil service system. Prior to creation of a professional, career police force, like letter carriers, police forces were filled with campaign get-out-the-vote volunteers and precinct poll watchers who stuffed the ballot box for their candidate. In the case of police, their job for the new mayor was often to beat up and harass volunteers for the loosing side.

[[Teddy Roosevelt]]'s rise to national prominence as a "progressive" reformer began with implementing civil service reform and ending the patronage system in the New York City Police Department, and later as governor by implementing a state level civil service system. Prior to creation of a professional, career police force, like letter carriers, police forces were filled with campaign get-out-the-vote volunteers and precinct poll watchers who stuffed the ballot box for their candidate. In the case of police, their job for the new mayor was often to beat up and harass volunteers for the loosing side.