Political appointments in the United States federal government until 1883. In 1820 Congress limited federal administrators to four-year terms, which led to constant turnover; by the 1860s and the Civil War, patronage had led to widespread inefficiency and political corruption. Although it used to be confined to cabinet positions, department heads, and foreign ambassadorships, by the 1860s patronage had spread to low-level government positions. This meant that when the incumbent political party lost a presidential election, the federal government underwent wholesale turnover. On July 2, 1881, Charles J. Guiteau, a disaffected and mentally unstable political office seeker, assassinated President James Garfield. This highlighted how much the
1881 in Australian literature 1881 in Australian literature This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1881. For an overview of world literature see 1881 in literature. "See also:" 1880 in Australian literature, 1881 in Australia, 1882 in Australian literature. A list, ordered by date of birth (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of births in 1881 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death. Unknown date A list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or