Many Americans felt that the result of the 1824 election was fraudulent primarily due to the perception that the process by which John Quincy Adams was chosen president was unfair and undemocratic. Here's a breakdown of the key factors that contributed to this feeling:
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Lack of Majority: No candidate received a majority of electoral votes in the election. Andrew Jackson received the most electoral votes and popular votes, but not the required majority. This led to the decision being made by the House of Representatives, which many saw as contrary to the will of the people.
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House of Representatives' Role: The House of Representatives selected John Quincy Adams as president, and many viewed this as a manipulation of the electoral process, especially since Henry Clay, who was Speaker of the House at the time, played a significant role in this decision. People felt that this was not a true reflection of the voters' choice.
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Allegations of Corruption: The appointment of Henry Clay as Secretary of State by Adams shortly after the election fueled allegations of a "corrupt bargain." Many believed that there was a backroom deal made between Adams and Clay, which further eroded public trust in the electoral process.
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General Discontent: The combination of these factors led to widespread dissatisfaction among Jackson's supporters, who felt their candidate was cheated out of the presidency despite winning a plurality of the votes.
Thus, the primary reason for the belief that the election was fraudulent was the combination of not having an outright majority, the role of the House, and the subsequent appointment that was perceived as a quid pro quo arrangement.
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