The 10th quadrennial presidential election in 1824 was a political turning point, as previous precepts were abandoned and new maxims established.
Historian Edward G. Lengyel writes about Gilder-Lehman, which, according to historian Edward G. Lengyel, was a “cauldron of sectarianism and political rivalry bubbling behind a semblance of unification,'' marking the 50th anniversary of the nation's founding. “It was an important contest that would expose the United States, which has not yet reached its current level, to a severe test.” organization.
Four diverse candidates ran for the White House from the same partisan bloc. After a fierce campaign, no candidate won a majority of the Electoral College. The winner was chosen through what was described as a “rigged deal” in the House of Commons.
In the years before 1824, there was no notable political infighting. It was the era of Good Feelings.
Democratic-Republican President James Monroe ran unopposed for re-election in 1820. He won every state and received all but one of the Electoral College votes. Without a Federalist candidate on the ballot, this nascent factional alliance finally disappeared. The Democratic-Republican Party became the country's only political organization.
The initial harmony between the members of this newly crowned isolated partisan group did not last long. In an op-ed for the National Constitution Center, Scott Bonvoy wrote that the division arose “as issues of slavery, states' rights, regionalism, and economics created a rift among former comrades.” This division became increasingly apparent as potential presidential candidates and their supporters jockeyed for advantage before the 1824 vote.
The nomination process at the time was in transition from the old caucus system to a more democratic approach involving voters. As a result, different dogmatic groups selected politically active candidates for the White House. This ideological fragmentation marked the end of the “era of good feelings.”
Four candidates emerged from different factions within the Democratic and Republican parties. In his book One-Party Presidential Elections, Donald Ratcliffe says, “All of the candidates were highly attractive celebrities and had significant accomplishments that made them worthy of this highest honor.” Masu.
Georgia slave owner William H. Crawford was selected as the standard-bearer for the Democratic-Republican Congressional Caucus defending the rights of the Old Guard states. While serving as Secretary of the Treasury in Monroe's cabinet, Crawford succeeded in rebuilding the nation's finances after the War of 1812 and the Panic of 1819. His financial achievements created a core of supporters across the country. Unfortunately, after becoming a candidate, he suffered a debilitating stroke. Despite suffering severe physical difficulties because of this, he refused to abandon his candidacy.
John Quincy Adams was one of the most qualified men ever to run for the highest office. Because of his accomplishments in various diplomatic missions, Monroe became Secretary of State. As a New Englander with strong moral opposition to slavery, it was surprising that a conference of Jeffersonian Democrats and Republicans ignored the son of the second chief executive and nominated Crawford for president. It wasn't. “Adams' supporters denounced the caucus call, and the Massachusetts General Assembly chose him as their favorite son candidate,” Margaret A. Hogan said at MillerCenter.org.
Kentucky native Henry Clay threw his hat into the ring as a Western candidate. His oratory skills and his position as Speaker of the House made him a very promising prospect. He advocated an “American system” of domestic improvements funded by protective tariffs.
Andrew Jackson, a feisty Tennessean and military hero of the Battle of New Orleans, rounded out the field of candidates for the Oval Office. While Old Hickory competed with Clay for the support of Western voters, he also gained support elsewhere as a voice for the common people. He is the first non-traditional political candidate to become chief justice since George Washington.
It was a different kind of campaign for the quartet.
Previously, candidates did not personally plan their campaigns. It was done by their political party. The four candidates in 1824 relied on personal supporters to organize their political activities and disseminate information. The printing press was the driving force behind this process. Defamatory claims were hurled by journalists and political henchmen to tarnish the opposition's reputation. One report charged that “Adams did not wear underwear and went to church barefoot.”
The vote itself was a hodgepodge. Depending on the state, citizens voted for specific candidates or electoral candidates. When the polls were tallied, Jackson received 152,000 popular votes and 99 electoral votes. Adams received 114,000 popular votes and 84 electoral votes. Crawford received 46,000 popular votes and 41 electoral votes. Clay received 47,000 popular votes and 37 electoral votes.
Because no one received a majority of the electoral votes, the 12th Amendment provides that the House of Representatives choose the winner from the top three candidates: Jackson, Adams, and Crawford. Clay lost the race, but his “role changed from that of a candidate to that of an influential Speaker of the House whose support would be crucial in choosing the winner,” William G. Morgan wrote in Tennessee. It was published in the Historical Quarterly.
Jackson declared his claim to the Presidency as he led in both electoral and total numbers. But Clay did not want his rival Jackson in the White House. He lobbied members of Congress to support Adams. On February 9, 1825, the House of Representatives met to elect a new Commander-in-Chief. Each state cast one vote as determined by its delegation. On the first vote, John Q. Adams was certified as president.
After taking office, Adams nominated Clay to the post of Secretary of State. Mr. Jackson and his supporters accused the two of “corrupt dealings.” Four years later, Old Hickory got its revenge by denying Adams a second term.
The 1824 presidential election campaign and bitter factional battles over its results helped form new political alliances that gradually turned into two-party politics. This partisan reelection process continues to this day.
Jonathan L. Stoltz is a resident of James City County.
