What was the "corrupt bargain" of the 1824 election?
Split of the Democratic-Republican candidates
Description by Andrew Jackson of the election outcome
Smear campaign John Quincy Adams used to win
Difference between the popular and electoral votes
The "corrupt bargain" of the 1824 election refers to the alleged deal made between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay, who was the Speaker of the House of Representatives at the time. In the election, there were four Democratic-Republican candidates: John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Crawford, and Henry Clay. None of the candidates received a majority of the electoral votes, so the election was thrown to the House of Representatives for a contingent election.
It was believed that Henry Clay, who was eliminated from the race and not eligible to become President, used his influence to help Adams win the contingent election in exchange for being appointed as Adams' Secretary of State. Jackson, who had won the popular vote and had more electoral votes than Adams, accused Adams and Clay of striking a "corrupt bargain" to secure Adams' victory.
This controversy contributed to Jackson's victory in the 1828 presidential election, where he defeated Adams in a rematch.