The Spoils System Explained: US History Review

Main Ideas

• The spoils system was associated with Andrew Jackson’s presidency, beginning around 1828–1829. After winning an election, a party claimed the right to appoint its supporters to government jobs—the idea summed up as “to the victor go the spoils.”
• Jackson’s supporters defended the practice as a way to bring fresh people and ideas into government. The presenter argues that, in practice, jobs often went to people with political connections rather than those selected for merit or skill.
• In 1829, job seekers reportedly gathered at Jackson’s inauguration seeking government positions. Jackson replaced about 10% of the federal workforce, with many changes in the post office, including an estimated 400–500 postmaster positions.
• The practice continued for decades, helping establish a pattern of political parties rewarding supporters with favors. The presenter connects this patronage to later political machines, including Tammany Hall at the local level.
• The video links President James Garfield’s assassination to the spoils system, saying the assassin was seeking a government job. It presents the assassination as helping spur civil-service reform.
• The Pendleton Act of 1883 is described as replacing patronage for covered government jobs with a merit-based civil-service system, including exams for some positions.
• The Hatch Act of 1939 is described as adding limits on political activity by federal employees to help separate government service from party politics.
• The presenter notes that patronage did not disappear entirely, especially in local politics.

People and Sources Featured

• Speaker: A single presenter introducing the video as HipU History. The subtitles render the presenter’s name or introduction as “Dizzy.” The video is associated with the Hip Hughes channel.
• Historical figures mentioned: Andrew Jackson, Senator William Marcy (rendered in the subtitles as “William Macy”), and James Garfield.
• Laws and organizations mentioned: The Pendleton Act, the Hatch Act, the Democratic Party, and Tammany Hall.