Did John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay strike a "corrupt bargain"?

Question

Andrew Jackson's supporters claimed this occurred to keep Andrew Jackson out of the White House in 1824. It was well known that Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay intensely disliked each other.

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

Allegedly so.

Henry Clay finished fourth in the electoral college voting for President in the 1824 election. However, no candidate won a majority of electoral votes, so the election was thrown into the House of Representatives. Because he finished fourth, he was not eligible to participate in the "tiebreaker" in the House of Representatives (only the top three votegetters were eligible). Some say that Henry Clay urged his supporters in the House to vote not for Jackson (the top votegetter) but for Adams (who finished second). As it were, Adams won the runoff in the House and became President. To fuel the "corrupt bargain" accusations, Adams promptly named Henry Clay to be his Secretary of State - a job which, at the time was considered the best stepping stone to the White House.

The evidence is unclear whether Clay actively campaigned against Jackson. But Jackson's followers believed he did and accused him of it, and the accusation stuck.

Answer 2

I think if we took at circumstantial evidence then there is a point but I believe there was talk between the two men that they believed Jackson to be unfit for the Presidency but not to the point of bargaining. Henry Clay was qualified by his great oratory and diplomacy to be Secretary of State and Adams did one of the few things right in office by this appointment. The Jackson administration was over dramatizing the situation because they believed they had won the Presidency.

Answer 3

They made a political deal, which often takes place today. For his support, Adams offered Clay a place in his administration. It was only different than other instances because it took place after the election. Whether it was corrupt as Jackson said is a matter of personal opinion. IMO its just politics.