5 - The American Way: John Quincy Adams Presidency

•Exordium: "What makes a fair victory? Is it Justice? Order? Lawfulness?"
•In the election of 1824, four men from the same party (Democratic-Republican) ran for president — Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, William Crawford, and Henry Clay. No one won a majority of the electoral votes (99, 84, 41, and 37, respectively, but none of them received 131 of 261 necessary to get a majority), so the House of Representatives had to choose the president. Henry Clay had a lot of influence in the House and he supported Adams. They selected John Quincy Adams even though Jackson had received more votes from the people "the popular vote."
-Why do you think the House of Representatives—not the people directly—was given the power to decide?
-How might this process create conflict or disagreement among citizens?
-What does this election reveal about how political parties were changing in America?
-Should the person with the most votes always win, or are there good reasons for another system?
-What principles of fairness or justice were tested in this election?
-How might this situation have influenced Americans’ views of democracy?
•When the House chose Adams, he made Henry Clay his Secretary of State. Many Jackson supporters claimed Adams and Clay had struck a secret deal—a “corrupt bargain.”
-Why did people believe there was corruption even though no proof existed?
-How could public perception damage a president’s ability to lead effectively?
-What does this event teach us about the importance of trust in government?
-If you were living in 1825, would you have believed in the “corrupt bargain”? Why or why not?
-Is it more dangerous for leaders to actually do wrong, or for people to believe they have?
-How does reputation shape a leader’s success or failure?
•Adams was intelligent and idealistic but faced strong opposition in Congress. Many of his ideas—like federal funding for roads, canals, and a national university—were blocked by Congress. When Adams entered the presidency, he articulated an ambitious domestic agenda. He believed the federal government should support internal improvements and he argued that the Constitution’s General Welfare Clause gave the federal government such abilities. Despite his vision, Adams ran into strong opposition. Many members of Congress—especially supporters of Andrew Jackson—blocked his proposals, believing they gave too much power to the federal government or favored improvement in certain regions over others.
•By 1828, the nation had split into new political parties. Adams represented the National Republicans; Jackson led the Democrats. The campaign turned bitter, and Jackson won easily.
•In 1824, many states still required men to own property or pay a certain amount of taxes to vote. But by 1828, most states had abolished those requirements, allowing nearly all white men to vote—whether rich or poor. This greatly increased participation among farmers, laborers, and frontiersmen—the very people who admired Andrew Jackson.
•Prior to 1824, the process for selecting presidential candidates was largely controlled by “King Caucus.” This informal system involved congressional caucuses, where members of Congress nominated party candidates. This method effectively limited public input, as nominations were decided by a small group of political insiders.
•The controversial 1824 election led to a significant shift towards greater popular participation in presidential selection. The “King Caucus” system, criticized for its undemocratic nature, largely collapsed after 1824 due to widespread public resentment and the perception that it fostered backroom deals.
•By 1824, eighteen of the twenty-four states already chose their electors by popular vote, a number that continued to grow.
-How did changes in voting laws, the fall of “King Caucus,” and the rise of political parties all increase public participation in presidential elections by 1828?
-Why did these changes—greater voting rights, new political parties, and the decline of congressional control—make Andrew Jackson’s victory possible while weakening John Quincy Adams’s support?
-If democracy expands by giving more people a voice, does it always lead to wiser choices—or can it also make politics more emotional and divisive, as in the election of 1828?