Why did many Americans feel that the result of the 1824 election was fraudulent?
A:New laws were enacted requiring voting men to own property, so many lost their right to vote; this resulted in a very low turnout of voters.
B:
Because no one received a majority of votes, the House of Representatives chose a new president from among three candidates; Henry Clay was not allowed on the ballot.
C:Andrew Jackson won the majority of electoral votes, but he did not win the most popular votes; therefore he did not become president.
D:As Speaker of the House, Henry Clay helped John Quincy Adams become president; later, Adams appointed Clay secretary of state.
D: As Speaker of the House, Henry Clay helped John Quincy Adams become president; later, Adams appointed Clay secretary of state.
The 1824 election is notorious for the controversy surrounding its outcome and the process known as the "Corrupt Bargain." Andrew Jackson had won the plurality of both the electoral and popular votes, but he did not secure a majority in the Electoral College. Therefore, as prescribed by the Constitution in the 12th Amendment, the election was decided by the House of Representatives, which chose between the top three candidates.
Henry Clay, who was the Speaker of the House and also a candidate in that election, was eliminated from consideration since he did not place among the top three in electoral votes. However, Clay had significant influence in the House, and he threw his support behind John Quincy Adams. When the House elected Adams president, many Jackson supporters were outraged, particularly because shortly after his victory, Adams appointed Clay as his Secretary of State. This sequence of events led Jacksonians to decry the situation as the "Corrupt Bargain," suggesting a deal had been struck between Adams and Clay. This alleged collusion and the appointment that followed fueled the belief among many Americans that the election results were fraudulent.