Grade 5
Social Studies
Unit: 08 Lesson: 01
To the Victor Belong the Spoils
The Spoils System
Andrew Jackson began the practice of giving government jobs to voters and supporters
as a reward for working toward his victory in the race for president. The other ways of
doing business is the merit system which awards offices or jobs based on merit or
deserving the reward because of hard work and not political activity.
Nast, T. (Artist). (1877). In memoriam--our civil service as it
was. [Print Drawing]. Retrieved from
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/I
n_memorium--our_civil_service_as_it_was.JPG
©2012, TESCCC
10/23/12
page 1 of 2
Grade 5
Social Studies
Unit: 08 Lesson: 01
©2012, TESCCC
10/23/12
page 2 of 2