The Election of 1828

The election of 1828 was the eleventh quadrennial presidential election. It was held from October 31 to December 2, 1828. The nominations of the 1828 election was nominated from conventions and state legislatures and not from congressional caucuses. The election was a rematch between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams. This election is most known for it being one of the dirtiest elections and the amount of mudslinging both candidates were engaged in. Both candidates criticized each other's personalities and morals rather than political issues. Adams said Jackson was incompetent by both his ignorance and fury of his passion. Adams was accused of misusing public funds for his own benefit and gambling devices, when in fact he bought a pool table and a chess board. Jackson's supporters spread a rumor that while Adams was serving as an American Ambassador to Russia, he had procured an American girl for sexual services of the Russian Czar. Jackson's supporters also called Adams a "pimp" and claimed that procuring women explained his great success as a diplomat. Jackson revived the alleged "corrupt bargain" between Adams and Clay. The "corrupt bargain" was said to be a secret arrangement between Adams and Clay. The House of Representatives was required to appoint the president due to any of the men getting the majority of electoral votes. Clay swung the votes of states he won to Adams and became Secretary of State. During all of the mudslinging, Adams refused to get involved with the campaign tactics. He was so upset, he didn't write in his diary from August 1828 until after the election.

Charges against Jackson were much more malicious. Andrew Jackson's incendiary temper led his life to fill with violence, controversy, and several duels. There was one duel in particular where Jackson notoriously killed a man in 1806. Jackson was accused of murder for executing militia deserters and dueling. He and his wife, Rachel, were