In the late 19th century, the United States underwent a series of reforms aimed at improving the efficiency and integrity of its civil service. William Eaton Foster provides a detailed account of this movement, tracing its origins, development, and impact on American politics and society. Drawing on a wide range of sources, he offers a compelling analysis of the forces that drove this momentous change, as well as the obstacles it faced and the achievements it realized. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of American government and public administration. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.