How was the rise of the civil service related to President Garfield’s assassination?

Garfield was assassinated by Charles Guiteau, a disappointed office seeker who wanted a government job. The killing drew public attention to the spoils system, in which political supporters received government positions, and helped build support for civil service reform based on merit. Garfield’s assassination did not itself start reform, but it became a major catalyst for it. Choice A is the best answer: it connects the assassination to opposition to political corruption.

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