The House of Representatives decided the Election of 1824 because none of the candidates received a majority of the electoral votes. In that election, there were four major candidates: John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William H. Crawford, and Henry Clay. Jackson won the popular vote and received the most electoral votes, but he did not secure the majority required to win the presidency. As per the provisions of the Constitution, when no candidate receives a majority, the decision is made by the House of Representatives from among the top three candidates. In this case, Henry Clay, who finished fourth, was eliminated from consideration, leaving Adams, Jackson, and Crawford as the remaining options. Clay was the Speaker of the House at the time and had significant influence over the outcome. After Clay used his political power to endorse Adams, the House elected Adams as the president in a contingent election, despite Jackson's stronger popular support. This decision sparked controversy and accusations of a "corrupt bargain" between Adams and Clay, which would later impact Adams's presidency.
