why did many Americans feels that the result of the 1824 election was fraudulent
Many Americans felt that the result of the 1824 election was fraudulent due to several reasons. To understand why, we need to delve into the circumstances surrounding the election itself.
Firstly, it is important to note that the 1824 presidential election was a unique and highly contested event. It had four main candidates: John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William H. Crawford, and Henry Clay. However, no candidate was able to secure an absolute majority of the electoral votes required to win the presidency.
In such a situation, per the terms of the 12th Amendment of the United States Constitution, the decision on the presidency ultimately fell to the House of Representatives. They were tasked with selecting the president from the top three candidates who had received the highest number of electoral votes. These candidates were John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and William H. Crawford.
The controversy arose from the belief that Speaker of the House, Henry Clay, exercised his influence and helped John Quincy Adams secure the presidency. Shortly after Jackson's campaign accused Adams and Clay of making a "corrupt bargain," claiming that Clay had offered his support to Adams in exchange for the position of Secretary of State in Adams' administration. Clay did, in fact, become Secretary of State under Adams, which elevated these allegations and fueled suspicions of corruption.
Furthermore, there were claims of political maneuvering, backroom dealings, and the use of undue influence to sway the outcome of the election. This led many Americans to view the election as being unfair and rigged, creating a strong sense of resentment and mistrust among the supporters of other candidates, especially Andrew Jackson's followers.
Ultimately, the accusations of fraud and corruption surrounding the 1824 election were largely fueled by the contentious nature of the race, the absence of a clear winner, and the subsequent political alliances formed. These factors contributed to the belief among many Americans that the election did not truly represent the will of the people.