Election of 1824 The Corrupt Bargain Text Credit: 2003 Teacher Fellows Candidates: John Quincy Adams (pictured), Andrew Jackson, William Crawford and Henry Clay C-SPAN Video Clip | Fun Fact | Historically Significant Elections Campaign Overview | Electoral Overview

CAMPAIGN OVERVIEW The election of 1824 had four Republican candidates vying for the presidency. Andrew Jackson of Tennessee was a popular war hero with limited political experience. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts, the son of second president John Adams, was an experienced Washington diplomat with a brilliant mind but an aloof disposition. Early in the campaign, William Crawford of Georgia was considered the favorite. During the election year Crawford developed a serious illness that resulted in the demise of his presidential hopes. Speaker of the House Henry Clay of Kentucky was the fourth candidate and eventually would play a major role in electing a political rival. In the News The Monroe Doctrine, issued in 1823, was a bold step for the United States in the area of foreign affairs. The extension of slavery into western states became a political issue with the passage of the Missouri Compromise. Despite an economic depression, the presidency of James Monroe faced limited criticism because of the decline of the Federalist Party. The Supreme Court continued to grant increased power to the federal government with decisions such as McCullough v. Maryland. Duels continued to be common in American political culture (refer to clip). Tactics/Strategy In 1824, a majority of the states chose electors by popular vote. This process increased the possibility of favorite-son, war hero, and "common man" campaigns. Most states had adopted laws that allowed an increased number of voters to participate in the democratic process which resulted in the first national campaign to make attempts to appeal to the "common voter." Platforms Regional differences dominated the campaign in 1824. John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State during the Monroe presidency, led a campaign that emphasized his experience with Washington D.C. politics. Opponents were critical of Adams' New England background and Federalist "tendencies." Andrew Jackson's campaign utilized his status as a war hero. He believed that the leadership skills he exhibited at the Battle of New Orleans made him the logical choice to lead the nation as president. Henry Clay, who disliked Jackson personally and politically, ran a campaign that emphasized his experience in the House of Representatives. As the architect of the American System and the Missouri Compromise, Clay's campaign emphasized his ability to broker deals that maintained a political balance among the different regions of the United States. Slogans "The Era of Good Feelings" was a prominent slogan. The demise of the Federalist Party left the Republicans as the only major political party during this period of American history. As a result, the expected bickering between two political parties was absent as the election of 1824 approached.

ELECTORAL OVERVIEW The presidential election of 1824 is one of the most controversial elections in United States history. None of the candidates received 50% of the electoral votes, throwing the election to the House of Representatives. Henry Clay, who finished fourth in the electoral count, threw his support to John Quincy Adams. Clay's substantial influence over the House vote resulted in the election of Adams, who had received approximately 30% of the popular vote. Rumors of a "corrupt bargain" were alleged after Clay was selected by Adams to serve as Secretary of State. Electoral College Results Andrew Jackson (Republican) 99 John Quincy Adams (Republican) 84 William Crawford (Republican) 41 Henry Clay (Republican) 37 Aftermath For the second time in America's brief history, the president was elected by a vote in the House of Representatives (refer to the election of 1800). Although Andrew Jackson was incensed by the results and rumors of a possible "corrupt bargain," he accepted the outcome. Jackson, however, did not exit quietly as he and his supporters established the Democratic Party, which brought an end to the "Era of Good Feelings." Due to the circumstances of his election, John Quincy Adams found it difficult to legislate and like his father, John Adams, served one term as president.