What was corrected by the pendleton act?

Answer 1

The Pendleton Act, passed in 1883, was the first step in creating the federal civil service system, in which employees of the federal government are hired and promoted on the basis of competitive tests, not on favors owed to political supporters (the "spoils system").

The Pendleton Act created a Civil Service Commission to devise appropriate tests and enforce the law. It also made it illegal to fire employees because they had supported a different candidate, to require them to work on political campaigns or to demand donations to a political party or candidate from them. Initially, about 10% of the government's civilian jobs were covered by this law. It now applies to more than 90% of federal civilian employees.

Ever since Washington, Presidents had appointed people who agreed with their views to important policy-making jobs in their administration. President Andrew Jackson took this further and fired even minor employees in order to give jobs to his supporters, saying "To the victor belong the spoils." Even under this "spoils system", it was expected that the new appointee would actually do his job to some extent, but President Grant's administration (1869-1877) became notorious for its incompetent and irresponsible political appointees. The public began demanding a change in the system. A few years later, in 1881, newly-elected President James A. Garfield was assassinated by a mentally disturbed man who was angry because he hadn't gotten a federal government job he felt he deserved. The public's demands for reform became much stronger and the new President, Chester A. Arthur, agreed. He became a strong supporter of Civil Service reform and pushed the Pendleton Act forward.