The Age of Jackson

The Corrupt Bargain of 1824

Election of 1824— No majority → House picks prez.

• Andrew Jackson: wins significant 42% popular vote, not majority

• Result: House picks prez.

John Quincy Adams wins presidency, but lost popular vote

• Henry Clay: Secretary of State, which were previous presidents

• Jackson: Views this as “corrupt bargain” b/w Adams and House rep. Clay

Jackson in 1828

Two new parties…

1. Democratic-Republicans: Andrew Jackson

   1. Campaign immediately after 1824

   2. Portrayed as frontiersman and champion for common man

   3. Mudslinging: Social reputations

2. National Republicans: John Q. Adams

Election of 1828: Voting split middle + northwest as east takes power from west

• West/South: Jackson

• North: Adams

  • “King Andrew”: Set precedent for more centralized executive power

The “Spoils System”

Rewarding political supporters w/ political office

Jackson’s first acts as President…

• Fires federal employees + replaced w/ supporters

  • Some were there since Washington

  • Reality: Washington was in need of change

  • Increases importance of political loyalty

Indian Removal

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