Before the Establishment of the Civil Service System in 1883

Before the establishment of the civil service system in 1883, what system of hiring was used to staff the federal bureaucracy?

A) Bureaucrats were hired permanently and remained in office until they died.
B) Congressional representatives rewarded their supporters with appointments.
C) The Supreme Court oversaw the staffing of the federal bureaucracy.
D) The president hired bureaucrats through the patronage system.
E) After an election victory, political parties rewarded their supporters with federal bureaucratic posts.