Why was the election of 1824 controversal?

Answer 1

According to the prevailing rules of electoral college voting at that time, electors cast votes for two persons. Electors could not distinguish between their presidential and vice-presidential choices until the passage of the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1804. In 1796, the recipient of the most electoral votes would become president and the runner-up vice-president. In the 1796 presidential election there was a total of 136 electoral votes thereby requiring a majority of 69 votes to win the presidential election. John Adams was elected president with 71 electoral votes. Thomas Jefferson received 68 electoral votes. Others receiving votes included Thomas Pinckney - John Adams' vice-presidential running mate (59), Aaron Burr (30), Samuel Adams (15), O. Ellsworth (11), George Clinton (7), John Jay (5), James Iredell (3), S. Johnston (2), George Washington (2), John Henry (2), and Charles C. Pinckney (1).

The United States presidential election of 1796 was the first contested American presidential election and the only one to elect a President and Vice President from opposing tickets. Although John Adams won, Thomas Jefferson received more electoral votes than John Adams' vice-presidential running mate Thomas Pinckney and Jefferson was elected Vice-President.

Answer 2

Andrew Jackson lost the election of 1824 even though he received the largest number of popular votes and electoral votes.

In the 1824 presidential election an individual needed to receive at least 131 electoral votes out of the 261 total electoral votes. Andrew Jackson received 99 electoral votes, John Quincy Adams received 84 electoral votes, William Crawford received 41 electoral votes, and Henry Clay received 37 electoral votes. The popular vote totals were Andrew Jackson 151,271, John Quincy Adams 113,122, Henry Clay 47,531, and William Crawford 40,856. Since no candidate received the required majority of 131 electoral votes, the president was elected by the U.S. House of Representatives in accordance with the Twelfth Amendment of the United States Constitution. John Quincy Adams won the election in the U.S. House of Representatives.