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. 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.  

[[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.