The Contenders: 1824
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 chart - What do you notice about the totals? Presidential Candidates John Quincy Adams Party: DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICAN Home State: MA Electoral Votes: 84 Pop. Vote: 113,122 (30.5%) Andrew Jackson Party: DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICAN Home State: TN Electoral Votes: 99 Pop. Vote: 151,271 (43.1%) William Harris Crawford Party: DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICAN Home State: GA Electoral Votes: 41 Pop. Vote: 40,856 (13.2%) Henry Clay Party: DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICAN Home State: KY Electoral Votes: 37 Pop. Vote: 47,531 (13.1%)
Election of 1824 The 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 College election 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 persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President Under the Twelfth Amendment, who was disqualified from running in the House election and why?
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!
The Corrupt Bargain Jackson clearly had popular support Received as many popular votes as the 2 nd and 3 rd 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 6 th president. Adams selected Clay as his Secretary of State Jackson accused Adams of bribing Clay
Is it fair to say that Andrew Jackson was cheated out of the Presidency in 1824?
- Why did the election of 1824 end up in the House of Representatives? - What happened in the House of Representatives? - Explain the corrupt bargain that allegedly took place during the Election of 1824. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qnvpc4zxpm