Final answer:
The spoils system resulted in a large turnover in the federal workforce with each new administration due to political patronage. It was later replaced by a merit-based civil service with the enforcement of the Pendleton Act of 1883.
Step-by-step explanation:
One effect that the spoils system had on government was d. a large turnover in the federal work force with each new administration. The spoils system was a form of political patronage, where government jobs were distributed based on political loyalty rather than merit. Under President Andrew Jackson, the spoils system led to thousands of party loyalists filling bureaucratic offices. This practice created a system in which job security was directly tied to the success of the ruling political party, resulting in significant turnover of government personnel with each new administration.
However, the spoils system was later replaced by a merit-based civil service following the passage of the Pendleton Act of 1883, which aimed to address the various issues associated with patronage, specifically the lack of job security and ineffectiveness resulting from appointing positions based on political favoritism rather than qualifications. The Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 established the Civil Service Commission to enforce a merit system where federal employment and promotions were based on competitive examinations.