Galleria: Spoils System and Kitchen Cabinet
Andrew Jackson wasted little time making his mark on the presidency. View the following galleria to learn about the changes instituted by the new president.
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Soon after taking office, Andrew Jackson declared his intention to clean out the federal government by removing old and incompetent officeholders. Jackson's predecessors followed a trend of retaining government employees, even if they were members of the opposition. Old Hickory reversed this trend by introducing the spoils system. Under this system, political opponents were removed and replaced with supporters of Jackson. Party loyalty became more important than competence in filling government jobs.
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The spoils system resulted in incompetent, corrupt profit-seekers becoming government clerks and officeholders. The new order also solidified the two-party system that had returned to American politics. The promise of receiving plum government jobs strengthened party loyalties. Jackson's use of the spoils system should not be exaggerated, however. While in office, Jackson replaced only one fifth of the federal officeholders from the Adams administration. 
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Rather than relying on his official Cabinet, Jackson instead sought advice from a group of friends. This informal gathering became known as the "Kitchen Cabinet." The president's reliance on his friends created some friction with the members of the regular Cabinet. Tensions increased in the administration when a feud developed between Jackson's secretary of state, Martin Van Buren, and Vice President John C. Calhoun.
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Van Buren looked to drive a wedge between Jackson and Calhoun. A controversy involving a Cabinet member's wife provided Van Buren the perfect opportunity. Rumors spread about the fidelity of Peggy Eaton, the wife of Secretary of War John Eaton. Calhoun's wife led a social campaign snubbing Peggy. Jackson, a friend of the Eatons, was outraged. The President blamed Calhoun for the campaign against Peggy. Van Buren remained in Jackson's good graces by siding with the Eatons. 
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The President later learned from his advisors that Calhoun, when secretary of war years earlier, had called for Jackson's court martial for his raids into Florida. Jackson removed Calhoun's supporters from his Cabinet. Van Buren had prevailed over his rival.
