Question

How did John Quincy Adams win the election of 1824?

a. He bribed members of Congress.
b. He fought a duel with Andrew Jackson.
c. He got support from Henry Clay.
d. He portrayed himself as a common man.

Answer 1

c. He got support from Henry Clay.

John Quincy Adams won the election of 1824 with the crucial support from Henry Clay after no candidate secured a majority in the Electoral College, leading to a House of Representatives vote.

Step-by-step explanation:

John Quincy Adams won the contentious election of 1824 through the support he received from Henry Clay. Andrew Jackson had received a plurality of the popular and Electoral College votes but did not secure the required majority in the Electoral College, which meant the decision went to the House of Representatives.

As Speaker of the House and a leader eliminated from contention due to being a lower-placing candidate, Henry Clay was in a position to influence the selection. Clay and John Quincy Adams shared similar views on economic policy and Clay's support ultimately led to Adams winning the presidency.

This was considered by many, including Andrew Jackson, to be a "corrupt bargain", although there was no evidence of an actual bribe or corruption in the legal sense.