Final answer:
The practice initiated by Andrew Jackson of giving government jobs to his political supporters was known as the spoils system, leading to increased corruption but securing party loyalty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The practice of giving government jobs to friends and political supporters, first widely used by President Andrew Jackson, became known as the spoils system.
This system involved the rewarding of party loyalists with government positions, leading to widespread corruption and the undermining of meritocratic principles in civil service appointments.
At the time of Jackson's presidency, this approach dramatically increased with his administration replacing numerous federal employees with party supporters.
The spoils system reached its peak during the Jacksonian era and remained a significant aspect of American politics until the establishment of civil service reforms like the Pendleton Act of 1883.