Pendleton Act: Merit Replaces Political Patronage
Chester Arthur was the last person anyone expected to reform government hiring. He had risen through New York's notorious patronage machine as Collector of the Port, a position he used to reward political allies with lucrative customs jobs. But after President Garfield was assassinated by a disappointed office seeker in 1881, public outrage demanded change, and Arthur surprised everyone by championing the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. Signed on January 16, 1883, the law created a merit-based system requiring competitive examinations for federal positions. It initially covered only about ten percent of government jobs but included a provision allowing presidents to expand coverage. By the end of the century, most federal positions were under civil service protection. The man who had profited most from the spoils system became the one who dismantled it.
January 16, 1883
143 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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