King Andrew the First, 1833 (Library of Congress)

John Quincy Adams won the election of 1824 with less electoral votes than Andrew Jackson. Since no candidate received a majority of the electoral votes, the election was decided by the House of Representatives. Adams won; Jackson called it a corrupt bargain.

Old Hickory would become the first westerner to reach the White House in the election of 1828.  Jackson won this rematch with John Quincy Adams, again winning the popular vote, but this time gaining the necessary majority of electoral votes. It was a campaign full of hateful mudslinging, one that possibly led to the death of Jackson’s wife, Rachel. This election also saw an increase in the electorate as more white, male Americans were enfranchised.

The Hero of New Orleans again parlayed his immense popularity into an election win in 1832. Running against National Republican (later Whig) candidate Henry Clay, Jackson’s opposition of a national bank was accepted by voters.

BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS

Chalmette Battlefield, Chalmette, LA

HOME

The Hermitage, Hermitage, TN

BOOKS

Davis, Kenneth C., and Pedro Martin. Don’t Know Much about the Presidents. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2014.

DeGregorio, William A., and Aaron Jaffe. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade Books, Inc., 2017.

Kane, Joseph Nathan, and Janet Podell. Facts about the Presidents: A Compilation of Biographical and Historical Information. New York: H.W. Wilson, 2009.