Jackson’s Rise to National Prominence: Andrew Jackson embodied the paradoxes of his times. He was confident and expansive as well as defensive and intolerant. In spite of his poor background he had prospered. He had studied the law and made a reputation as a military man fighting against the Indians in the southeast.

     The Election of 1824 and the "Corrupt Bargain:" Jackson came to prominence in a political environment that was changing. The old political guard did not take Jackson seriously; they underestimated his popularity and the attractiveness of his humble beginnings to the American voters. It was precisely Jackson’s position as outsider with which so many Americans identified. When the votes were counted neither Jackson nor his fellow candidates had won a majority. Jackson lost the election when Henry Clay marshaled enough support to throw the election to John Quincy Adams. True to their beliefs, Jackson and his supporters charged that the election had been stolen in a "corrupt bargain" brokered by insiders who placed their will above that of the voters.

     he Adams Presidency and the Gathering Forces of Democracy: President Adams was hurt by his connections to banking and mercantile interest. He misread the times and underestimated the gulf developing within the American electorate. Adam’s actions sent voters to Jackson’s camp. Jackson’s supporters attempted to further discredit Adams on the issue of the tariff and in 1828 a new tariff bill became law.

     The Election of 1828: In 1828, the tariff had come to symbolize an even more vexing problem: the underlying issue was the deep and lasting conflict over the power of the federal government. In what actions could the federal government claim the authority of the American people? And in what actions did it overstep that authority? The campaign of 1828 ushered in a new era of national political campaigning—including the candidate visibly working for his own election. Jackson won a clear majority which represented a strong cross-section of voters who saw Andrew Jackson as one of their own.

Think About This

1. In what ways did Andrew Jackson symbolize the paradoxes of his time?
2. Describe the events surrounding the election of 1824 and the resulting "corrupt bargain."
3. How did the "corrupt bargain" energize Andrew Jackson and his supporters?
4. In what ways was the election of 1828 different from previous elections?

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