The Corrupt BArgain: TRanscript
Written by Angela Kim
In the presidential elections of 1824, five strong candidates rushed forward in a race for the much-desired seat of presidency in the United States of America. As intense as any election could possibly become, this particular election sparked a flare of controversy at the time. In this race to be the sixth president, the five candidates—including Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and Henry Clay—Jackson eventually led with the greatest number of electoral votes, ninety-nine in all. While the other candidates saw only his inexperience, his lack of a political background, the sight of the people varied greatly. A large number of Americans, forty-three percent to be precise, saw him as a hero and veteran from the War of 1812. They saw a man not unlike themselves, a man of the people. In the end, Jackson’s inexperience became his strongest point, and he beat even John Quincy Adams, who only received thirty percent of the popular vote. However, Jackson did not receive the majority of popular vote or electoral vote, and the matter went into the hands of the House of Representatives.
Here, Henry Clay found himself faced with a decision, a decision that would alter the course of America for the next four years, if not any longer. Ever since the beginning, he had been the most outspoken against Andrew Jackson, not only disliking him but also thinking of him as an unqualified candidate. In Clay’s eyes, Jackson simply could not lead a nation.
Finishing only fourth in the race, and as Speaker of the House, Clay considered the elections being taken to the House of Representatives. He saw no opportunity to win the presidential elections himself, only an opportunity to save the United States from an unworthy candidate. Making a decision, Clay eventually created an Ohio Valley-New England coalition. This coalition virtually handed his supporters over to that of John Quincy Adams, giving Adams a better shot at winning the overall presidential elections. At first, this plight seemed to work. It helped Adams become president, leaving the unworthy Andrew Jackson to the side. However, this only worked temporarily.
Labeling the coalition as “corrupt bargain,” Jackson’s followers printed articles on the wrongness of what Clay did. Almost immediately, while John Quincy Adams was still yet president, Jackson began to campaign once more. This time, however, he had not only the glowing figure of a many of the people, a war veteran who loves his country, a president who would place the people ahead of politics, but he had something else, something that Clay never meant to give him. This time, Jackson was pitied for the two other candidates working against him, and a mixture of this pity along with all the other factors won him the next presidential elections.
In the presidential elections of 1824, five strong candidates rushed forward in a race for the much-desired seat of presidency in the United States of America. As intense as any election could possibly become, this particular election sparked a flare of controversy at the time. In this race to be the sixth president, the five candidates—including Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and Henry Clay—Jackson eventually led with the greatest number of electoral votes, ninety-nine in all. While the other candidates saw only his inexperience, his lack of a political background, the sight of the people varied greatly. A large number of Americans, forty-three percent to be precise, saw him as a hero and veteran from the War of 1812. They saw a man not unlike themselves, a man of the people. In the end, Jackson’s inexperience became his strongest point, and he beat even John Quincy Adams, who only received thirty percent of the popular vote. However, Jackson did not receive the majority of popular vote or electoral vote, and the matter went into the hands of the House of Representatives.
Here, Henry Clay found himself faced with a decision, a decision that would alter the course of America for the next four years, if not any longer. Ever since the beginning, he had been the most outspoken against Andrew Jackson, not only disliking him but also thinking of him as an unqualified candidate. In Clay’s eyes, Jackson simply could not lead a nation.
Finishing only fourth in the race, and as Speaker of the House, Clay considered the elections being taken to the House of Representatives. He saw no opportunity to win the presidential elections himself, only an opportunity to save the United States from an unworthy candidate. Making a decision, Clay eventually created an Ohio Valley-New England coalition. This coalition virtually handed his supporters over to that of John Quincy Adams, giving Adams a better shot at winning the overall presidential elections. At first, this plight seemed to work. It helped Adams become president, leaving the unworthy Andrew Jackson to the side. However, this only worked temporarily.
Labeling the coalition as “corrupt bargain,” Jackson’s followers printed articles on the wrongness of what Clay did. Almost immediately, while John Quincy Adams was still yet president, Jackson began to campaign once more. This time, however, he had not only the glowing figure of a many of the people, a war veteran who loves his country, a president who would place the people ahead of politics, but he had something else, something that Clay never meant to give him. This time, Jackson was pitied for the two other candidates working against him, and a mixture of this pity along with all the other factors won him the next presidential elections.