In the election of 1824, no candidate won the majority of electoral votes, so the election was decided by the House of Representatives. Henry Clay convinced his supporters to back John Quincy Adams, who then appointed Clay Secretary of State. Andrew Jackson and his supporters believed this was a "corrupt bargain" and vowed revenge. In response, Jackson and his supporters formed the Democratic Party to represent common people, not just the wealthy elite. By 1828, all white males could vote. The Democratic Party campaigned aggressively for Jackson, and he won the election with support from first-time voters.
4. “A Corrupt Bargain”
• No candidate won majority
of Electoral votes so vote
goes to House of Reps
• Henry Clay told his supporters in
the House to vote for John
Quincy Adams.
• When J.Q. Adams became
president, he made Clay his
Secretary of State
• Jackson and his supporters were
FURIOUS. They felt he had been
cheated out of the presidency
and vowed revenge
5. The Democratic Party and the Election of 1828
• After losing the election of 1824, Jackson and his
supporters built a new political party: the DEMOCRATIC
Party
***THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY***:
– Represented the common man: ordinary
farmers, workers, immigrants and the poor
– Believed the Republican party only represented the
upper class: rich, well-born, and well educated and
people influenced by MONEY
– Wanted to open up the government to the
“common man” by encouraging more people to
vote.
6. The Common Man
• Part of middle and lower class;
Usually not very educated
• Mostly farmers, artisans, small
business owners, Some may not
own land
• Never really had an influence on
government because they
couldn’t vote
• Wanted government to be in
the hands of “THE PEOPLE” not
just the rich
• Lived mostly in the West, and
middle areas of the United
States
7. The Democratic Party and the Election of 1828
• Before 1828 all property owning
white males could vote
• By 1828 ALL WHITE MALES over
the age of 21 could vote!
• Jackson and the Democratic Party
campaigned for the Election 1828
with speeches, rallies, posters, songs,
button, picnics, parades.
• Jackson won the election with the
help of first time voters