The pendleton act provided that federal government jobs be awarded on the basis of merit instead of being a reward for political support. which of these had the most bearing on the passage of this legislation? a) president theodore roosevelt demanded civil service reform as part of his "square deal" policies. b) muck-raking journalist like ida tarbell and upton sinclair raised massive public support for the legislation. c) in 1881, a disgruntled office-seeker assassinated president james garfield after being rejected for an ambassadorship. d) spanish operatives were accused of planting a bomb on the u. s.s. maine in havana harbor and killing hundred of sailors.