Final answer:
The act of firing all government employees upon the arrival of a new President and filling the new spots with friends/party contributors instead of the merit system is known as the spoils system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The act of firing all government employees upon the arrival of a new President and filling the new spots with friends/party contributors instead of the merit system is known as the spoils system or political patronage.
The spoils system was prevalent in the United States during the 19th century, where government jobs were awarded to loyal supporters of the winning political party. This practice allowed the party in power to reward its supporters, but it often resulted in the appointment of unqualified individuals.
In response to concerns about corruption and nepotism, the Pendleton Act of 1883 was passed, which marked the transition from the spoils system to a merit-based civil service system.