Final answer:
The election of 1824 was ultimately decided by the House of Representatives, leading to accusations of a "corrupt bargain" when Henry Clay supported John Quincy Adams, who then made Clay his Secretary of State. This event, along with the Tariff of Abominations, was seen as a manipulation of the democratic process and a sectional bias in economic policy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Election of 1824 and the "Corrupt Bargain"
The election of 1824 was decided by the House of Representatives after none of the candidates secured a majority in the Electoral College, as outlined by the Twelfth Amendment. Andrew Jackson won the most popular and electoral votes, but not the required majority, so the decision went to the House between the top three candidates.
Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and William H. Crawford were in contention, but Henry Clay, who was fourth and thus eliminated, threw his support behind Adams. Adams won on the first ballot, and afterward appointed Clay as his Secretary of State.
This led many, including Jackson and his supporters, to cry foul and label the alliance between Adams and Clay as a "corrupt bargain". They felt that a private, elite agreement had subverted the democratic process, since it appeared that Clay's support came in exchange for a prestigious position in Adams' administration.
The Tariff of Abominations
The Tariff of Abominations, passed in 1828, was seen to favor northeastern manufacturers while disadvantaging southern consumers and exporters. This exacerbated tensions within the country, with southern states arguing it was protective legislation that harmed their economy. It also stoked deeper fears that federal intervention could eventually extend to the issue of slavery.