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== The Election of 1824, also the Steamboat ==

== The Election of 1824, also the Steamboat ==

After Monroe served two terms and retired just like Washington, a bitter race for president developed.  Jackson started his own Democratic Party and ran against John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts, the son of John Adams.  Other candidates, such as Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky, also ran.  John Quincy Adams, a Democratic-Republican (and later a National Republican), was a former Federalist who supported a strong national government.  He had previously served as a minister to Russia when it acted as mediator to help negotiate the Treaty of Ghent to end the War of 1812.

After Monroe served two terms and retired just like Washington, a bitter race for president developed.  Jackson started his own Democratic Party and ran against John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts, the son of the former President John Adams.  Other candidates, such as Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky, also ran.  John Quincy Adams, a Democratic-Republican (and later a National Republican), was a former Federalist who supported a strong national government.  He had previously served as a minister to Russia when it acted as mediator to help negotiate the Treaty of Ghent to end the War of 1812.

Until 1824 presidential candidates were nominated by Congressmen in an informal political meeting called a "caucus".  The caucus is still used today at some political conventions.  The presidential candidate [[Barack Obama]] recently did better than [[Hillary Clinton]] in states that used caucuses (rather than an election by voters), which enabled Obama to defeat Clinton for the Democratic nomination.  But in 1824, all the leading candidates for president were from the same political party (the Democratic-Republican Party), and no caucus was held to pick the nominee for the party.  Instead, they all were on the ballot on Election Day for the voters to decide.

Until 1824 presidential candidates were nominated by congressmen in an informal political meeting called a "caucus" (a favorite political term of John Adams).  The caucus is still used today at some political conventions.  As a presidential candidate in 2008, [[Barack Obama]] did better than [[Hillary Clinton]] in States that used caucuses (rather than an election by voters), which enabled Obama to defeat Clinton for the Democratic nomination despite Clinton having defeated Obama in many States that used open primaries.  But in 1824, all the leading candidates for president were from the same political party (the Democratic-Republican Party), everyone who was nominated by the congressional caucus was on the ballot on Election Day for the voters to decide.

Jackson won more votes than Adams on Election Day but not enough to become President, so the election went into the House of Representatives.  There Clay apparently struck a private bargain with Adams, whereby Clay persuaded Congressmen to vote for Adams, and Adams, after he won, appointed Clay to be Secretary of State.  Supporters of Jackson ("Old Hickory") harshly criticized this as the "corrupt bargain."  Jackson, campaigning against this "corruption", crushed Adams in the presidential election four years later.

Jackson won more votes than Adams on Election Day but not enough to become president, so the election went into the House of Representatives.  There Clay apparently struck a private bargain with Adams, whereby Clay persuaded congressmen to vote for Adams, and Adams, after he won, appointed Clay to be Secretary of State.  Supporters of Jackson ("Old Hickory") harshly criticized this as the "corrupt bargain."  Jackson, campaigning four years later against this "corruption", crushed Adams in the next presidential election.

'''Debate:  Is it wrong for a politician to cut a deal with another politician like the "corrupt bargain" between Adams and Clay?'''

'''Debate:  Is it wrong for a politician to cut a deal with another politician like the "corrupt bargain" between Adams and Clay?'''

Under the John Quincy Adams Administration, Congress continued to pass tariffs to increase its funding, such as the Tariff of 1824.  Henry Clay adopted a term, the "American System," to justify use of protective tariffs along with nationwide internal improvements, in order to expand the domestic economy and decrease our dependence on foreign nations.

Under the John Quincy Adams Administration, Congress continued to pass tariffs to increase its funding, such as the Tariff of 1824.  Henry Clay adopted a term, the "American System," to justify use of protective tariffs along with nationwide internal improvements, in order to expand the domestic economy and decrease our dependence on foreign nations.

The steamboat, invented in 1807 by Robert Fulton, with the first one constructed in America being the Clermont, had a major effect on economy by 1820s.  The steamboat enabled goods to be transported quickly and cheaply over water.  Canals were then built.  The most important canal was the Erie Canal, finished in 1825, to connect the Hudson River and New York City with the Great Lakes.  Spectacular economic success enabled our nation's economy to grow immensely.  The Erie Canal allowed New York City to become the financial center and biggest city in the United States.  That canal cost $7 million but was soon generating profits of $3 million per year!

The steamboat, invented in 1807 by Robert Fulton, with the first one constructed in America called the ''Clermont'', had a major effect on economy by 1820s.  The steamboat enabled goods to be transported quickly and cheaply over water.  Canals were then built.  The most important canal was the Erie Canal, finished in 1825, to connect the Hudson River and New York City with the Great Lakes.  Spectacular economic success enabled our nation's economy to grow immensely.  The Erie Canal allowed New York City to become the financial center and biggest city in the United States.  That canal cost $7 million but was soon generating profits of $3 million per year!

Another tariff was passed in 1828, partly due to a political attempt to support Jackson.  Discussed in greater detail below, the supporters of free trade in the South were outraged and called this the Tariff of Abominations.  John Quincy Adams left Andrew Jackson a big problem for him to deal with.

Another tariff was passed in 1828, partly due to a misguided attempt to help Jackson in the upcoming presidential election.  Discussed in greater detail below, the supporters of free trade in the South were outraged and called this the Tariff of Abominations.  John Quincy Adams left Andrew Jackson a big political problem for him to deal with.

After serving only one term as President, John Quincy Adams was remarkable in how he then continued to participate in politics.  While virtually all other presidents and vice presidents felt that Congress was beneath them after they served, John Quincy Adams returned to Congress as a member of the House of Representatives from Massachusetts.  There he fought for 17 more years against slavery and in favor of abolitionism, though the "gag rule" (see below) muzzled his anti-slavery efforts for some of that time.  He also ran unsuccessfully for the position of governor of Massachusetts.  John Quincy Adams died after collapsing on the floor of the House of Representatives as he prepared to give a speech, and is interred in Quincy, Massachusetts.

After serving only one term as President, John Quincy Adams was remarkable in how he then continued to participate in politics.  While virtually all other presidents and vice presidents felt that Congress was beneath them after they served, John Quincy Adams returned to Congress as a member of the House of Representatives from Massachusetts.  There he fought for 17 more years against slavery and in favor of abolitionism, though the "gag rule" (see below) muzzled his anti-slavery efforts for some of that time.  He also ran unsuccessfully for the position of governor of Massachusetts.  John Quincy Adams eventually died by collapsing on the floor of the House of Representatives as he prepared to give a speech, and is interred in Quincy, Massachusetts.

== Jacksonian Democracy ==

== Jacksonian Democracy ==