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1824
Election | Voting Public | Dirty
Campaigning | Victory
 Andrew
Jackson's presidential election in 1828 proved a turning point in
American History. Not only was it considered the dirtiest campaign
ever witnessed, but it also marked the beginning of political involvement
for ordinary Americans.
1824 Presidential Election
— Bitter Roots
This campaign had its bitter roots in the 1824
presidential election between the same two candidates. John
Quincy Adams was awarded the presidency, but Jackson felt the American
people were denied their choice and immediately set out to win the
presidency four years later.
Changes
in the Voting Public
Many more Americans were involved
in the election of 1828. They called the election a triumph of democracy
over aristocracy, inaugurating the age of the common man. The campaign
also resulted in the revival of a two-party system and the creation
of a new national party—Jackson's Democratic Party.
Mudslinging
& Dirty Campaigning
In addition, the campaign reached new heights in mudslinging
and dirty campaigning. Never before had there been such an intense
focus on the candidates' personalities and such little attention
paid to the issues.
Victory
& Sadness
Andrew Jackson won the presidency in
1828. But in the moment of his greatest victory, Andrew Jackson
also suffered the most crushing blow of his life—the death
of Rachel.
>>>
Sources :
Robert
V. Remini, Andrew Jackson, Volume Two, The Course of American
Freedom, 1822-1832 (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press,
1998) Chapter 8, "Triumph and Tragedy."
The
Hermitage [website], accessed 21 August 2001; available from http://www.thehermitage.com/elect.htm;
Internet
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