Before 1883,how were government jobs awarded?

Question

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Before 1883, government jobs in the United States were often awarded based on the spoils system, where jobs were given to people based on their loyalty to the party in power, rather than on their qualifications or merit. This system changed with the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, which established that positions within the federal government should be awarded on the basis of merit, assessed through competitive exams.

Before 1883,how Were Government Jobs Awarded