Election Of Andrew Jackson
The election of 1824 had left supporter of Andrew Jackson bitterly disappointed. He had most of the electoral votes but was denied presidency by House of Representatives. The Election of 1828 was unique in that nominations were no longer made by Congressional caucuses but by conventions and state legislatures. Compared to other men, Jackson had scanty qualifications as a statesman, with only brief and undistinguished service in Congress and as territorial governor. Where all Presidents since Washington had served extensive administrative and diplomatic apprenticeship, Jackson had never held a Cabinet post or even been abroad. He did not speak foreign languages and wrote in English roughly. However, his heroics as a general had a far greater hold on the public imagination than the governmental experience of his competitors. There was no organized national presidential campaign in 1824. Candidates built on a regional base: Adams was the favorite in New England, Jackson in the Southwest, Clay in the Ohio valley, Crawford in his native Virginia. Calhoun dropped out, settling for the vice-presidency on the Adams and Jackson tickets.
Many political professionals such as Clay did not take Jackson's candidacy entirely seriously at first. The returns showed their mistake. He proved to be the only aspirant with a truly national popular following. Jackson also carried Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the Carolinas along with the entire Southwest. He led the field with 43% of the popular vote and electoral votes, less than a majority. Since no candidate had a majority in the Electoral College, under the 12th Amendment to the Constitution the choice between the top three candidates now fell to the House of Representatives, where each state delegation cast one vote. In part because Henry Clay announced his support for Adams, Adams drew the votes of the thirteen states, a majority, on the first ballot. Adams then named Clay as Secretary of State, leading Jackson to swear that a "corrupt bargain" had swindled him out of the office.
Jackson and his supporters immediately began preparing for a rematch. Jackson's 1828 campaign was the first presidential campaign to appeal directly to voters through a professional political organization. After Jackson allied with John C. Calhoun to form an anti-Adams coalition, skilled political organizers like Martin Van Buren, and other created a network of campaign committees to organize rallies, parades, and barbecues, and erect hickory poles, Jackson's symbol.
Jackson's followers fended off questions regarding his qualifications and experience by touting his battlefield exploits, indomitable patriotism, and opposition to aristocracy and corruption. Mud was slung on both sides, much of it aimed at Jackson's wife Rachel, his violent escapades, and the incidents of ferocious discipline and disrespect for civilian authority that dotted his military career.
"[W]ho has been so cruelly tried as I have ... the enemies of the General have dipped their arrows in wormwood and gall and sped them at me. Almighty God, was there ever anything to equal it ... to think that thirty years had passed..."
—Rachel Jackson to a friend
For the first time in American history, a presidential election was the focus of public attention, and voter participation increased dramatically. In the end, Jackson won easily but his victory was touched with grief. As if responding to torrent of abuse, Rachel Jackson died on December 22, 1828.
Many political professionals such as Clay did not take Jackson's candidacy entirely seriously at first. The returns showed their mistake. He proved to be the only aspirant with a truly national popular following. Jackson also carried Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the Carolinas along with the entire Southwest. He led the field with 43% of the popular vote and electoral votes, less than a majority. Since no candidate had a majority in the Electoral College, under the 12th Amendment to the Constitution the choice between the top three candidates now fell to the House of Representatives, where each state delegation cast one vote. In part because Henry Clay announced his support for Adams, Adams drew the votes of the thirteen states, a majority, on the first ballot. Adams then named Clay as Secretary of State, leading Jackson to swear that a "corrupt bargain" had swindled him out of the office.
Jackson and his supporters immediately began preparing for a rematch. Jackson's 1828 campaign was the first presidential campaign to appeal directly to voters through a professional political organization. After Jackson allied with John C. Calhoun to form an anti-Adams coalition, skilled political organizers like Martin Van Buren, and other created a network of campaign committees to organize rallies, parades, and barbecues, and erect hickory poles, Jackson's symbol.
Jackson's followers fended off questions regarding his qualifications and experience by touting his battlefield exploits, indomitable patriotism, and opposition to aristocracy and corruption. Mud was slung on both sides, much of it aimed at Jackson's wife Rachel, his violent escapades, and the incidents of ferocious discipline and disrespect for civilian authority that dotted his military career.
"[W]ho has been so cruelly tried as I have ... the enemies of the General have dipped their arrows in wormwood and gall and sped them at me. Almighty God, was there ever anything to equal it ... to think that thirty years had passed..."
—Rachel Jackson to a friend
For the first time in American history, a presidential election was the focus of public attention, and voter participation increased dramatically. In the end, Jackson won easily but his victory was touched with grief. As if responding to torrent of abuse, Rachel Jackson died on December 22, 1828.
The Election of Andrew Jackson changed America because it brought to power the first American President not rooted in the Eastern aristocracy. He was elected by the "common" man and acted within mandate. His election was described as The Revolution of 1828. He was the first President to introduce the spoils system to national government, basing appointments on political support. He used his veto power extensively. He vetoed more bills in his term of office than all the previous presidents put together.