Historedia
AmericasEvent

Andrew Jackson defeats John Quincy Adams in the 1828 US presidential election

When
1828–1829
Where
United States; Washington, D.C.
Episodes
3

Andrew Jackson defeated incumbent John Quincy Adams in the 1828 US presidential election. The campaign featured intense mudslinging and significant voter turnout increases. Jackson's victory was aided by the Tariff of 1828, which alienated Southern supporters of Adams. The election marked the first time two Northerners faced two Southerners on presidential tickets.

Episodes

  1. 1828 · United StatesTariff of 1828 Impact

    The Tariff of 1828, called the "Tariff of Abominations," eroded Adams's Southern support and aided Jackson's campaign.

  2. October 31 - December 2, 1828 · United StatesVoting Period

    Presidential elections were held from October 31 to December 2, 1828, with Jackson winning a landslide victory.

  3. March 4, 1829 · Washington, D.C.Inauguration Refusal

    Adams refused to attend Jackson's inauguration on March 4, 1829, embittered by his defeat.

Background and detail

Background. Following the 1824 election, Jackson's supporters organized for 1828, leading to the split of the Democratic-Republican Party. Adams's administration faced criticism for the Tariff of 1828, known as the "Tariff of Abominations," which hurt his Southern support. Jacksonians gained congressional seats in 1826, strengthening their position for the upcoming election.

Campaign Dynamics. The 1828 campaign was characterized by extensive mudslinging, with both sides attacking personal qualities. Jackson dominated the South and West, aided by the tariff controversy. Key figures like Van Buren and Calhoun shifted support to Jackson, consolidating the Democratic coalition. The election saw a tripling of votes compared to 1824, reflecting expanded suffrage.

Election Result. Jackson defeated Adams in a landslide, marking the first North vs. South ticket matchup. Adams considered retiring after the defeat, though he later won a House seat in 1830. The relationship between the two men deteriorated significantly after the election. Adams refused to attend Jackson's inauguration in March 1829.

People involved

Sources

  1. 1828 United States presidential election Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-30
  2. John Quincy Adams Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-27
  3. Andrew Jackson Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-30

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.