Spoil vs Merit System

Government officials typically use the spoil system to give friends, families, and sponsors jobs in a government position they might not be qualified for. Before 1881 it was common for presidents who just got elected to office to pick friends, family members, and sponsors or people who gave them financial help to win the election. During President Washington's campaign he elected all federalist to his cabinet positions. In 1881 James A Garfield started the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act which basically removed the spoils system, and brought in a new system the Merit System which made it harder for Presidents to elect people who didn't deserve the job into his cabinet. The Merit System gives people with proper qualifications to the cabinet positions.