The Contenders: 1824

The election…• More white male voters. Income eligibility

lifted• Elimination of property voters• Political campaigns appealing to the masses• Nation was expanding. West wants a say…

They nominate H. Clay• No more revolutionary heroes to succeed

Monroe, regional figures become important

Election Results chartwhat do you notice about totals?

Presidential Candidatessee below for Vice Presidential candidates

John Quincy Adams Party: DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANHome State: MA

Electoral Votes: 84Pop. Vote: 113,122 (30.5%)

Andrew Jackson Party: DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANHome State: TN

Electoral Votes: 99Pop. Vote: 151,271 (43.1%)

William Harris Crawford Party: DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANHome State: GA

Electoral Votes: 41Pop. Vote: 40,856 (13.2%)

Henry Clay Party: DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICAN

Home State: KYElectoral Votes: 37

Pop. Vote: 47,531 (13.1%)

Election of 1824The presidential election of 1824 represents a watershed in American politics.

The collapse of the Federalist Party and the illness of the "official candidate" of the Democratic-Republicans led to a slate of candidates who were all Democratic-Republicans.

This led to the end of the Congressional Caucus system for nominating candidates, and eventually, the development of a new two-party system in the United States. Andrew Jackson won a plurality of both the popular and electoral vote.

But John Quincy Adams became president.

Four crucial elements of our election system were highlighted in the election of 1824: the nomination of candidates, the popular election of electors, the Electoral Collegeelection of the president in the House when no candidate receives a majority

in the Electoral College.

Amendment Twelve, United States Constitution (1804)

“if no person have such a majority [of electoral votes], then from the personshaving the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for asPresident, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, thePresident…”

Under the Twelfth Amendment, who was disqualified from running in the Houseelection and why?

The Corrupt Bargain• Jackson clearly had popular support• Received as many popular votes as the 2nd and 3rd place candidates

combined.• BUT, he did not receive a majority in the Electoral College• The Constitution requires the House of Representatives to decide between

the top 3.

• Adams, Jackson, and Crawford were the top 3• Clay was eliminated, BUT he happened to be Speaker of the House!• Adams was selected by the House to become the 6th president.• Adams selected Clay as his Secretary of State• Jackson accused Adams of bribing Clay• What do you think?

The House Chooses

• By the time the House of Representatives met to make its decision, one man

• suffered a physical setback. William Crawford suffered a serious stroke that left him a

• paralytic wreck, unable to walk normally or speak distinctly. The race came down to

• a choice between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams.• As a result of placing fourth in the electoral vote, Henry Clay

was eliminated• BUT, as Speaker of the House that would now choose the

President, Clay’s influence was viewed as pivotal.

The Plot Thickens• After a lengthy private conference with John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay• (Adams’ former opponent), threw his powerful support to Adams. The House of• Representatives elected Adams to the Presidency on February 9, 1825. Three

days• later, President-elect Adams formally offered the position of Secretary of State

to• (you guessed it) - Henry Clay.• The supporters of Andrew Jackson (who had received more popular and

electoral• votes than Adams in the general election) were both suspicious and angry. They• accused Adams and Clay of entering into a “corrupt bargain” (or deal) through

which• Adams had “purchased” the Presidency from Henry Clay. Jackson, they claimed,

had been cheated out of the Presidency!

Is it fair to say that Andrew Jackson was cheated out of the Presidency in 1824?

Explain the “corrupt bargain” that allegedly took place during the Election

of 1824.