By: William Sotelio
Jalen Starks
Brenna Tompkins
• The Spoils System was the practice of giving
appointive offices to loyal members of the
party in power. (Jacksonians)
• Jackson considered himself a “Man of the
People”, and felt obligated to make the
government for the people.
• To accomplish this, Jackson replaced current
appointed offices with his loyal early
supporters.
• Jackson appointed Samuel Swartwout to be
the Collector of the Port of New York
• As a result, the former criminal but early
Jacksonian stole $1,222,705
• Jackson was dumbfounded while his enemies
mocked his poor decision making
• Some can view this and other appointments
by President Jackson to be acts of a tyrant
because he laid off capable aristocratic
officers while losing millions of dollars.
• However, this made him a man of the people
as well because he gave the common man the
power to run the government.