1. Two Ugly Elections
1824 and 1828

2. Election of 1824

3. The Candidates Four serious candidates for president
Each candidate represented a different “section” of the country… “sectionalism”
All four men were members of the Democratic- Republican Party
The Federalist party was all but dead

4. John Quincy Adams
From Massachusetts
(Northeast)

5. Henry Clay
From Kentucky
(West)

6. William H. Crawford
From Georgia
(South)

7. Andrew Jackson
From Tennessee
(West)

8. The Voting Andrew Jackson won the popular vote
Andrew Jackson “won” the electoral college vote
EC had 261 votes (need 131, or “majority” to win)
Jackson 99 votes
Adams 84 votes
Crawford 41 votes
Clay 37 votes
“plurality”

9. In the House … Election is known as the “Stolen Election”
No “majority” winner in the EC
therefore the House of Representatives must vote for president
Only the top three candidates may be considered
therefore Henry Clay is out

10. Clay’s influence… Clay was the Speaker of the House
Clay really disliked Andrew Jackson
Convinced members of the HR to vote for Adams
Adams won; appointed Clay as Secretary of State
known as the “Corrupt Bargain”

11. The Consequences Jackson and his supporters were furious
Vowed to have a “rematch” in 1828
Began planning for the 1828 election
Adams was unpopular with the people & the Congress
JQA administration accomplished very little
JQA is not considered to be very important

12. The Consequences Democratic-Republican Party split…
Adams supporters created the National Republican Party
Jackson’s supporters created the Democratic Party

13. Election of 1828

14. 1828: a Rematch Adams’ Views National Republicans
Favored a national bank
Favored a strong protective tariff
Favored a strong central government
Mostly Northerners
Business owners and bankers
Wealthy and well-educated

15. 1828: a rematch Jackson’s Views Democrats Opposed national bank
Opposed high tariff
Opposed a strong central government
favored States’ Rights
Southerners & Westerners
Farmers & working class
Many new voters (esp. immigrants)
“the Common Man”

16. The Campaign… Jackson and supporters got organized
Created national and state committees
Created lists of voters
Held fund raising events
Used slogans, songs, and pamphlets
Adams and supporters did not organize as well

17. Jackson Accused Adams of being… Adams Accused Jackson of being…
Mudslinging…
Jackson Accused Adams of being…
Adams Accused Jackson of being…
a “king”
“aristocratic”
a “gambler”
a Federalist/traitor
uneducated
a drunk
a brawler/duelist
an adulterer

18. The Consequences Jackson won in a “landslide”…
Considered a victory for the “Common Man”
Introduced the “spoils system” to US government
The winner’s friends get government jobs
Jackson’s wife died…stress related???

19. Two Ugly Elections
1824 and 1828