Question

How did the Pendleton Civil Service Act weaken the spoils system after President Garfield died?
a. The act forced federal employees to pass competitive exams.
b. The act said that federal employees could be fired for political reasons.
c. The act said that company contracts and kickbacks were illegal.
d. The act stopped the reform movement in its tracks.

Answer 1

The correct answer is letter A. The act forced federal employees to pass competitive exams. This was a federal law established in 1883. This law created fairness in awarding jobs to people based on their merits and not on their political affiliations.

Answer 2

The correct answer is A) The act forced federal employees to pass competitive exams.

The spoils system is one in which an elected official repays the people who helped him/her get elected by giving them a federal job. This was used by US Presidents such as Andrew Jackson and James Garfield. This system was considered ineffective because it would allow people with no qualifications to have significant influence in the federal government. This is why the Pendleton Civil Service Act was passed, to ensure that individuals who receive federal jobs are qualified and skilled enough to complete them effectively.