The Election of 1824
In the 1824 presidential election, Andrew Jackson received both more popular and more electoral votes than his three opponents—John Quincy Adams, William Crawford and Henry Clay. Secretary of State Adams, with 84 electoral votes, came closest to General Jackson's 99. But since no one had a majority, the House of Representatives would have to decide who would become the next President. Each of the then 24 states had one vote. Of course, that meant intense politicking. The fourth-place candidate, the influential Speaker of the House Clay, threw his support behind Adams, who officially clinched victory on Feb. 9, 1825 with 13 votes to Jackson's 7 and Crawford's 4. The new President soon appointed Clay Secretary of State, fulfilling what Jackson's supporters charged was a "corrupt bargain." Clay and Jackson would remain the bitterest of political rivals for years to come.