The elections – Andrew Jackson

The first attempt of former U.S. President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), who is remembered by his nickname “Old Hickory”, to win the presidential function was during presidential election in 1824. 

Although he led in all opinion polls, at the end of the elections neither he nor the other three candidates received enough votes.

Since none of the candidates had enough votes, the House of Representatives decided the election, whose speaker Henry Clay was also a candidate for president. To make this decision, Clay withdraw his nomination (the number of votes he won placed him at forth place so he didn’t had any chance to win).

Excluded from the race, Clay used his influence to bring John Adams on the presidential position. In exchange, Adams appointed Clay as Secretary of State.

For Jackson, this was enough to accuse them of conspiracy against him. The next four years, the “Old Hickory” and his supporters led a campaign in which they accused the President of corruption and fraud.

This had an effect on the next election, in 1828, which are remembered for vicious tricks of both electoral teams.

During that campaign, Jackson was accused to be a multiple murderer, his wife Rachel of bigamy, and Adams of selling American virgins to the Russian emperor. 

In any way, Andrew Jackson won that elections, he rewarded his most loyal supporters with positions in the cabinet and unsuccessfully tried to change the electoral law because of which he lost the previous elections.