Which of the following statements is true?
a The Election of 1824 is referred to as the “corrupt bargain.”
b In the Election of 1800 and of 1824, the winner of the popular vote did not secure the electoral vote.
c As a result of the Election of 1824, a constitutional amendment clarifying the Electoral College was ratified.
d The Electoral College was created at the onset of our constitution to encourage all eligible persons to vote directly for the president of their choice.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is a. The Election of 1824 is referred to as the “corrupt bargain.”
Explanation:
The Election of 1824 was one of the most contentious and controversial elections in U.S. history. Four candidates ran for president: John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William H. Crawford, and Henry Clay. Jackson won the most popular votes and the most electoral votes, but did not secure the necessary majority in the Electoral College to win outright. According to the 12th Amendment, when no candidate wins a majority of electoral votes, the decision is thrown to the House of Representatives, where each state delegation casts one vote to choose the president.
In the House, the decision came down to a choice between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson, with Adams emerging victorious. Shortly after the election, Jackson’s supporters accused Adams and Henry Clay of making a “corrupt bargain.” Clay, who was the Speaker of the House and a candidate himself, was believed to have thrown his support behind Adams in exchange for being appointed Secretary of State. This accusation of a corrupt political deal overshadowed Adams’ victory and led to widespread public resentment, especially from Jackson’s supporters, who felt that the will of the people had been ignored.
Option b is partially true, but not entirely accurate. In both 1800 and 1824, the winner of the popular vote did not secure the presidency due to the Electoral College. However, the circumstances of these elections are different, especially in 1800, when Thomas Jefferson won after a tie in the Electoral College, leading to a constitutional change in the voting system.
Option c is incorrect because no constitutional amendment was passed after the Election of 1824 to clarify the Electoral College. However, the controversy surrounding the election did lead to increased calls for reform.
Option d is false because the Electoral College was not created to encourage people to vote directly for president. It was designed as a compromise between those who wanted Congress to choose the president and those who wanted a direct popular vote, balancing state and federal interests.