Spoils System Vs. Merit System

          The "spoils system" played a major role in our government for a long period of time and was eventually replaced by the merit system.  Basically, the "spoils system" was a system in our government that hired employees based on their political connections and the merit system is an arrangement where people are hired based on their ability to perform a job.  Andrew Jackson, the seventh president, is credited with starting the "spoils system" because he gave it it's name after John Quincy Adams gained his presidency through what is known as the "corrupt bargain" today.  Henry Clay, who was also a candidate for President and a member of the House, threw his support to John Quincy Adams and was subsequently appointed Secretary of State by Adams.  Andrew Jackson and his supporters were infuriated by this clear act of quid pro quo.  The Spoils System was formally ended  when President James Garfield was assasinated by an upset office seeker who was denied an appointment and subsequently took revenge against Garfield.  The act that ended this "spoils system" was the Pendelton Act of 1883, which also created the merit system.  The president could now only hand out a certain amount of jobs that must be approved by the senate. 
          The "spoils system" is still in our government today.  An example of this could be something like the amount of money raised by Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown to get elected as the Massachusetts State senators.  Together they raised seventy million dollars (open secrets.org).  This shows how people in our government are still hired based on their status rather than their ability to perform a certain job.  In my opinion, the "spoils system" will most likely never vanish completely.