1. Cold Case: The Election of 1824
A corrupt bargain or a fair deal?

2. What pattern or trend emerges from the following data?
Previously Held Office
President A
Vice-President
President B
Secretary of State
President C
President D

3. Which candidate seems most qualified to be President of the United States? Why?
Qualifications
Candidate A
Talented Secretary of State
Candidate B
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Candidate C
Treasurer
Candidate D
Military Hero

4. Results WHICH CANDIDATE RECEIVED THE MOST POPULAR VOTES?
Electoral Vote A
108,740 84 B
47,136 37 C
46,618 41 D
153,544 99
WHICH CANDIDATE RECEIVED THE MOST POPULAR VOTES?
WHICH CANDIDATE RECEIVED THE MOST ELECTORAL VOTES?
WHICH CANDIDATE BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES? IDENTIFY THE OTHER THREE CANDIDATES.
WAS THE RESULT SURPRISING IN LIGHT OF WHO THOUGH WAS MOST AND LEASE QUALIFIED?

5. Impact of the 12th Amendment
“if no person have such a majority (of electoral votes), then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding thee on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President…”
Why was this section of the 12th amendment so relevant to the election of 1824?
How many electoral votes were needed to win the election of 1824?
Which candidate received the majority of electoral votes?
Once the general results were known, who was given authority under the Constitution to choose the President in 1824?
Did any of the candidates seem to be at an advantage now that the House of Representatives would choose the next President?
Under the 12th amendment, who was disqualified from running in this election and why?
Despite his “Constitutional” elimination, was there any way in which this candidate could benefit politically from the situation in which he found himself?

6. Historical Background
Henry Clay will use his influence to benefit himself in this situation
Clay and JQ Adams had a private meeting
After this meeting, Clay influenced members in the house to vote for Adams
John Quincy Adams won the presidency, and appointed Henry Clay as the Secretary of State
Americans were outraged since Jackson had won the popular vote and majority of electoral votes

7. Activity Did a “corrupt bargain” take place in the Election of 1824
In groups of four, read the handouts, and answer the following focusing questions:
What kind of document did they examine?
Who wrote the document?
When was this document written?
Did this document suggest that Adams and Clay entered into a corrupt bargain? Explain.
Complete the Investigative Report Handout as a group

8. Handout 6 Examine the chart
Overall, what long term impact did the Election of 1824 have on the development of political parties in the United States?
How will this election impact the next presidential election in 1828?