APUSH Chapter 13, Part 5 – The Spoils System – Flashcards
Flashcard maker : Tara Rose
Who did the spoils system reward?
supporters with good positions in office
What did Jackson believed counted?
experience
What did Jackson believe counted more than experience?
loyalty, young blood and sharp eyes
What did Jackson work to do?
overhaul positions and erase the old
When was a new party voted into the presidency?
none since the election of 1800
What happened b/c of one party rule of the presidency?
many positions had stayed and not changed
What did Jackson want to do with the positions?
wanted to “wipe the slate clean”
How much men did Jackson send home?
only 1/5, clean sweeps would come later
What were people always hounding Jackson for?
positions
What happened to the people that were discharged?
often went mad, killed themselves, or had a tough time with it
What did the spoils system deny?
many able people a chance to contribute
Who was awarded the lucrative post of collector of the customs of the port of New York?
Samuel Swartwout
What did Swartwout do nine years later after being the collector of the customs of the port of New York?
fled for England, leaving his accounts more than a million dollars short
What did Samuel Swartwout become?
the 1st person to steal a million dollars from the gov.
What was the spoils system built up by?
gifts from expectant party members
How long did it take for the spoils system’s tenacious grip to be loosened?
more than 50 years
