the election of 1828 can best be characterized as _ . multiple choice question. a war of personal invective a rout by the federalists
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is “a war of personal invective.”
Explanation:
The election of 1828 was a highly contentious and personal battle between two candidates: Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams. Jackson, representing the Democratic Party, faced off against Adams, who was the incumbent president and represented the National Republican Party. The election is often characterized as a “war of personal invective” because of the intense and often vitriolic personal attacks exchanged between the candidates and their supporters.
The campaign was marked by harsh and slanderous rhetoric. Jackson’s supporters attacked Adams for his role in the “Corrupt Bargain” of 1824, a controversial event in which John Quincy Adams was elected president by the House of Representatives despite Jackson winning the popular vote. Jackson’s backers argued that Adams had struck a deal with Henry Clay to secure the presidency, which they labeled as a form of corruption.
On the other side, Adams’ supporters, including his ally Henry Clay, accused Jackson of being an unrefined and unfit candidate due to his frontier origins and his military record, which they tried to depict as problematic. They also attacked Jackson’s personal life, notably the fact that his wife, Rachel, had been married to another man before marrying Jackson, which led to accusations of bigamy. The intense scrutiny of Jackson’s personal life and the salacious attacks against him deeply affected his wife, leading to her death shortly before the election.
These personal and character-based attacks were a key feature of the election. The mudslinging campaign tactics not only dominated the discourse but also played a significant role in shaping the modern American political system. Jackson’s victory in the election was seen as a triumph for the common man, as it reflected the growing influence of ordinary voters, who rallied around his image as a self-made, populist hero.
Thus, the election of 1828 is best remembered for its focus on personal attacks, making it a “war of personal invective.”