Question

Why did Henry Why did Henry Clay choose to support John Quincy Adams over Andrew Jackson for President? Clay believed that Jackson did not have the qualifications to be President Clay believed that Jackson as President would result in a civil war Clay believed that Jackson would pass laws making slavery legal in all states Clay believed that Jackson was going to use the Presidency to make himself rich

Answer 1

Henry Clay supported John Quincy Adams over Andrew Jackson in the presidential election of 1824 due to a shared vision of economic policy and Clay's belief that Jackson lacked the necessary qualifications for the presidency.

Step-by-step explanation:

Henry Clay chose to support John Quincy Adams over Andrew Jackson for President because Clay believed that Jackson did not have the necessary qualifications to be President. Additionally, Clay and Adams shared similar principles regarding the government's role in economic development, such as support for tariffs and internal improvements. This alignment of views, along with Clay's role as Speaker of the House, led him to work within the House to secure the presidency for Adams, despite Jackson leading in both popular and Electoral College votes, but without the majority needed. After the election, Adams appointed Clay as his secretary of state, which spurred allegations of a "corrupt bargain" from the Jackson camp, but there was little evidence to support this.