How Dirty Politics of 1828 Changed American History Forever
A turning point in American political history occurred in 1828, when Andrew Jackson was elected over the incumbent John Quincy Adams. While democratic practices had been in ascendance since 1800, the year also saw the further unfolding of a democratic spirit in the United States. Supporters of Jackson called themselves Democrats or the Democracy, giving birth to the Democratic Party and thus inaugurating the Second Party System. (Democracy in America: 1815-1840)
As the presidential election of 1828 approached, the nation’s emotions were running high. Andrew Jackson, the former Governor of Tennessee, was to challenge incumbent president John Quincy Adams. This was a partial rematch of the controversial four way contest of 1824. Jackson won the most popular and electoral votes, but because no candidate won a majority, the election went to the House of Representatives, who chose second place finisher John Quincy Adams. Jackson and his supporters were furious. Calling it the “Corrupt Bargain” Jackson’s supporters accused fourth-place candidate Henry Clay of selling his supporters to Adams for the job of Secretary of State. This set the stage for the most vicious campaign ever seen at that in American history (Benjamin Shaw)
One of the most bitterly fought elections in U.S history saw a split electoral college and winner decided by “corrupt bargain.” (James Traub) Before the election of 1824, the United States was at the tail end of the so called Era of Good Feelings, a time when political partisanship was low and one party, The Democratic Republicans, dominated U.S national politics. The election of 1824 ended that era. Clashing interests on protectionism and trade, as well as sharply divided views on the role of government and America’s place in the larger world, created lasting schisms. By declining to give the nod to designated successor, President James Monroe allowed a wide-open campaign to develop. Four men: John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, William Crawford and Andrew Jackson, sought the presidency. The ensuing battles would transform politics, leading to a new democratic culture as well as the Democratic Party.
In that election, more than three times as many people cast votes in the 1824 election. It marked the beginning of modern politics, until then presidential elections had been decided solely by the Electoral College, and the electors had all been appointed. (Robert McNamara 2019) Beginning in 1828, members of the Electoral College were voted into their positions, therefore their votes more truly reflected the public’s wishes. Past grievances and a potentially very tight race, both Jackson and Adam’s camps used unprecedented means to get the public’s vote. To appeal to the common man, for the first time organizers used symbols and slogans such as Old Hickory and organized rallies, dinners, parades, and barbecues to get out the vote. Both sides were very carefully organized with committees from national to local fundraising to news coverage.
Dirty campaigns have been with U.S since the first presidential campaign-George Washington ran unopposed. But even among a long history of dirty campaigning, the campaign of 1828 stood out as the worst (Rick Ungar). Attacks on Jackson were unparalleled in American political history. His opponents accused of murder, gambling, slave trading and treason. They called him a ‘military chieftain,’ and said his mother was a prostitute, his father a mulatto man, and his wife a bigamist. Jackson supporters were by no means innocent. Adams was accused of installing gambling tables in the White House at the public expense, of padding his expense account, and even of pimping women for the Tsar of Russia. Many more Americans were involved in the election of 1828 though. They called the election a triumph of democracy over aristocracy, inaugurating the age of the common man. The campaign also resulted in the revival of a two-party system and the creation of a new national party-Jackson’s Democratic Party.
A presidential candidate of 1824 could not afford to be seen openly campaigning as a candidate for the papacy can today. They had proxies and campaign managers, politely known as “friends,” who planted articles in the newspapers advancing their man and undermining rivals. They engaged in a ceaseless circuit of private talks with legislators and local power brokers. Candidates largely sat in one place and received reports from their friends, in person or by letter. A candidate succeeded by appealing to other professional politicians as much as to ordinary citizens. And the appeal itself remained oblique to the point of coyness. It was not a popularity contest as it soon became after 1828.
All six previous presidents had come from Virginia or Massachusetts. Jackson was the first to be born in the new frontier. He was also the first not to be born in the ranks of privilege and wealth. Andrew Jackson’s win showed democracy at work. He was the only president since George Washington without a college education. Citizens believe anyone could become president-you could be an ordinary person and still aspire to the nation’s highest office.
References
- Democracy in America 1815-1840 The Second Party System
- James Traub The Ugly Election Birthed Modern American Politics
- Rick Ungar Contributor Opinion Forbes The Dirtiest Presidential Campaign Ever Not Even Close
- Robert McNamara ThoughtCo The Election of 1828 Was Marked By Dirty Tactics