Who decided that John Quincy Adams had won election of 1824?

Answer 1

Motivation

Answer 2

John Quincy Adams was elected by the House of Representatives in 1825. Since no candidate got a majority of the electoral vote in 1824, in accord with the US Constitution, the house chose from the top three candidates and Adams was elected over Andrew Jackson and William H. Crawford.

Answer 3

The election actually went on until 1825 before it was decided.The time period was a transitional period in American politics and there were no system for nominating candidates. The caucus system was in decline as electoral power grew and any party or group could nominate a candidate for the presidency. Some candidates like Jackson were nominated by more than one group and the campaigns were not like today's campaigns. The candidates didn't give speeches, didn't have platforms, and didn't go to places to campaign. They argued through the press and supporters. This encouraged slander about the candidates while they never said a word. Documents were forged and rumors were told to destroy reputations. One report had Adams not wearing underwear and going to church barefoot. Adams tried to stay above the rumors and that his record of service should show his ability to be president. There was no set aside Election Day in 1824 but votes accumulated through the fall or slates of electors were pledged to support certain candidates in the electoral college. In six states legislative bodies chose electors and elsewhere by popular vote. The results exposed the fragmented nature of the political process and a full scale political crisis happened. Jackson won 99 electoral votes and 114,023 popular votes and Adams won 84 electoral votes and 46,979 popular votes. Henry Clay received 37 electoral votes so none had the majority in term of the 12th amendment and it left the decision to the House. This caused lobbying from 1824-1825 as the process went on. On January 8, 1825 Clay gave his support and this changed the structure of the voting. Rumors had Adams making a bargain with Clay to get his support and on the first and only ballot Adams won a majority of states and Jackson got 7 . Adams appointed Clay Secretary of State confirming Jackson's impression that they had struck a "corrupt bargain." He felt cheated out of the presidency.