In 1824 the Kentucky legislature nominated Henry Clay, the Speaker of the U.S. House, as its favorite-son candidate for president.1 A Baltimore newspaper reported that December that Kentucky's vote had been 17,331 for Clay and 6,455 for Andrew Jackson.2 All 14 of Kentucky's electors voted for Clay, but he finished fourth nationally with 37 electoral votes, and only the top three candidates could be considered by the House.3
Historian James Traub writes that Kentucky's legislature had voted overwhelmingly to endorse Jackson and that Clay's friends were prepared to disregard the instructions they received from the state.4 On January 9, 1825, Clay visited Adams and, Adams recorded, said his preference would be for Adams.5 On January 24 the Kentucky congressional caucus announced for Adams.6
On February 9, 1825, the House elected Adams with 13 states to 7 for Jackson and 4 for William H. Crawford, with Kentucky among Adams's supporters.7 The State Department's Office of the Historian says Clay's support for Adams violated the instructions of the Kentucky legislature.8 Adams made Clay secretary of state, and Jackson and his followers accused the two of a corrupt bargain.9
Because no candidate for President was elected by the people, the election was decided by the House of Representatives. In that vote, John Quincy Adams was elected President with 13 votes. Andrew Jackson received 7 votes and William H. Crawford received 4 votes.
National Archives, Electoral College results for 1824, archives.gov, read October 3, 2026. Quoted as published.
Sources for each sentence
Each numbered entry quotes the words that support that sentence, as they appear on the linked page.
- Back to sentence 1
the Massachusetts legislature nominated Adams as their favorite-son candidate. The Kentucky legislature did the same for Clay.
millercenter.org/president/jqadams/campaigns-and-elections A third candidate, Henry Clay of Kentucky, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, represented the western states.
prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2020/10/22/the-1824-presidential-election-and-the-corrupt-bargain - Back to sentence 2
The following is given as the result of the whole vote of the State: For Mr. Clay, 17331; For Gen Jackson, 6455.
elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/wp988k37v American, and Commercial Daily Advertiser (Baltimore, MD). December 21, 1824.
elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/wp988k37v - Back to sentence 3
Kentucky cast 14 votes for Clay as President.
archives.gov/electoral-college/1824 Adams won 84, Crawford 41, and Clay 37.
prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2020/10/22/the-1824-presidential-election-and-the-corrupt-bargain only the top three candidates in the electoral vote were admitted as candidates in the House
prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2020/10/22/the-1824-presidential-election-and-the-corrupt-bargain - Back to sentence 4
they would be prepared to disregard the instructions they received from Kentucky, whose state legislature had voted overwhelmingly to endorse Jackson.
nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/america-presidential-elections-1824-corrupt-bargain - Back to sentence 5
On January 9, Clay paid a quiet visit to Adams at the latter's home.
nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/america-presidential-elections-1824-corrupt-bargain he had no hesitation in saying that his preference would be for me.
nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/america-presidential-elections-1824-corrupt-bargain - Back to sentence 6
On January 24, the Kentucky congressional caucus announced for Adams.
nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/america-presidential-elections-1824-corrupt-bargain - Back to sentence 7
John Quincy Adams was certified by the House as the next President on February 9, 1825, on the first ballot with 13 states. Jackson followed with 7 and Crawford with 4.
prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2020/10/22/the-1824-presidential-election-and-the-corrupt-bargain Adams had won, with the support of Kentucky and other western states
nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/america-presidential-elections-1824-corrupt-bargain - Back to sentence 8
Clay lent his support to John Quincy Adams instead of Andrew Jackson, thereby violating the instructions of the Kentucky legislature.
history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/clay-henry - Back to sentence 9
Once in office, Adams installed Henry Clay to the post of Secretary of State.
prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2020/10/22/the-1824-presidential-election-and-the-corrupt-bargain Jackson and his followers accused Clay and Adams of striking a corrupt bargain.
prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2020/10/22/the-1824-presidential-election-and-the-corrupt-bargain
Sources checked on October 3, 2026
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