Common Man

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White Male Suffrage (1830s)

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By the early 1800s all white men could vote regardless of social class or property ownership. As a result politicians had to appeal to the common man in order to win elections.

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John Quincy Adams

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The son of John Adams who won the 1824 presidential election by a vote of the House of Representatives after no candidate won a majority of the electoral college vote.

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Henry Clay

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Congressman who was behind the American System and the Missouri Compromise. In the 1824 election he threw his support to John Quincy Adams in what has been called the "Corrupt Bargain."

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Andrew Jackson

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The man who won a majority of the popular vote in the 1824 election but not a majority of the electoral college vote. He did go on to win the 1828 and 1832 presidential elections.

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Election of 1824

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In this election year no candidate received a majority of the electoral college vote and the House of Representatives chose John Quincy Adams.

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"Corrupt Bargain"

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Term used to describe a series of events associated with the 1824 election in which Henry Clay supported John Quincy Adams for president in the House of Representatives and became secretary of state in the Adams administration.

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Tariff of Abominations

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Term used to describe the Tariff of 1828 which placed a tax on foreign imports and hurt the Southern economy.

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The South Carolina Exposition and Protest

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This document, written by John C. Calhoun, argued that states had the right to nullify federal laws and that South Carolina would secede if the Tariff of 1828 was not repealed.

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Election of 1828: In this election the Democratic candidate, Andrew Jackson, defeated the National Republican candidate John Quincy Adams. This was considered a victory for the common man.

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Andrew Jackson defeated John Quincy Adams, marking a victory for the common man.

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Spoils System

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System used by Andrew Jackson and others to reward campaign workers and loyal party members with government jobs.