Question

Read the text below calling for reform of the spoils system. we hereby declare ourselves in favor of the complete abolition of the spoils system from the public service, believing that system to be unjust, undemocratic, injurious to political parties, fruitful of corruption, . . . and in every way opposed to the principles of good government. –from the national civil service reform league 1894 petition what do the writers of this petition mean when they claim that the spoils system is "injurious to political parties" and "fruitful of corruption"?

A. the spoils system helps political parties but encourages corruption in government.
B. the spoils system hurts political parties and helps corruption grow.
C. the spoils system harms political parties but helps to reduce corruption.

Answer 1

The writers of the petition viewed the spoils system as harmful to political parties and promotive of corruption, meaning it weakened party integrity and led to unethical practices. Option B, stating that the spoils system hurts political parties and helps corruption grow, is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the writers of the 1894 National Civil Service Reform League petition claimed that the spoils system is "injurious to political parties" and "fruitful of corruption", they were expressing that the system damaged political parties and fostered corruption within the government.

Option B: The spoils system hurts political parties and helps corruption grow is the correct interpretation of the writers' claim. The spoils system, which awarded government jobs based on political loyalty rather than merit, not only encouraged political patronage but also led to governmental inefficiency, and compromise of ethical standards, as positions were often filled by individuals more interested in their political reward than in serving the public good.

It weakened political parties by encouraging loyalty to individual leaders rather than to the party or its ideals, and it was "fruitful of corruption" because it fostered an environment wherein public offices were given as rewards, leading to widespread graft and malfeasance, such as the notorious examples of corruption in New York City.