December 1, 1824
The United States presidential election concluded with none of the candidates securing a majority in the Electoral College. This led to the contingent election by the House of Representatives in 1825, where John Quincy Adams was elected President.
Washington D.C., United States | United States Congress
On December 1, 1824, the outcome of the United States presidential election was determined as no candidate secured a majority in the Electoral College. This election is notable for being the first and only time when the decision was made under the provisions of the Twelfth Amendment through a contingent election in the House of Representatives.
The election of 1824 was unique in American history as it involved four main candidates, all from the Democratic-Republican Party:
The political landscape at the time was characterized by the absence of clear party lines due to the breakdown of the Federalist Party, leaving the Democratic-Republicans as the dominant political force.
When the Electoral College votes were tallied, Andrew Jackson received the most popular and electoral votes but did not achieve the required majority to win the presidency outright. The final electoral vote count was:
Since no candidate received a majority of the electoral votes (131 out of 261), the decision was moved to the House of Representatives as dictated by the Twelfth Amendment.
On February 9, 1825, the House of Representatives held the contingent election. In this process, each state delegation had one vote, determined by the majority preference of its House members. Henry Clay, having finished fourth, was eliminated from the contingent election, but he wielded significant influence and threw his support behind John Quincy Adams.
Thanks to Clay’s backing, Adams was able to secure the presidency, winning 13 state delegations, compared to 7 for Jackson and 4 for Crawford.
The election of 1824 and the subsequent House decision marked a turning point in U.S. politics. It underscored the limitations and complexities of the Electoral College system. The election also fueled accusations of a “corrupt bargain” between Adams and Clay, significantly impacting the political capital and future endeavors of all involved, particularly Andrew Jackson. Jackson’s loss galvanized his supporters and led to the formation of the Democratic Party, paving the way for his successful presidential bid in the 1828 election.
This election highlighted the evolving landscape of American politics, setting the stage for the robust party system that would dominate in later years.
Source: en.wikipedia.org