1828 Election Results Jackson vs Adams

The election of 1828 was a seminal election in American history. It was the first election which was to be decided by popular vote. It was an election which pitted Andrew Jackson, who projected an image of a populist, against President Adams, who was a member of "the ruling class." Once again the election campaign included numerous personal attacks on each of the candidates. Adams was attacked for living in "kingly pomp and splendor." Adam was also attacked for traveling on Sunday and having premarital relations with his wife. Jackson was attacked as being uneducated and reckless. They also attacked Jackson, branding him a murderer, for his executions of deserters. Jackson's marriage to his wife also came under attack, based on a technicality. Jackson's wife was an adulterer when she initially began her relationship with him.

Beyond personality traits, there were actual policy differences between the two candidates. Adams supported the National Bank. He wanted high tariffs and advocated federal funds for internal improvements. Jackson opposed the bank. He wanted lower tariffs and was in favor of only limited federal support for internal improvements.

Adams continued the tradition of presidential candidates not personally campaigning at all. Jackson, on the other hand, was intimately involved in organizing his campaign. Jackson won the southern and western states, which were enough to ensure his victory. Adams maintained his support in New England.

Account of Election

State results in 1824

Popular Results in 1828

Alabama Andrew Jackson 16,736 89.9 John Q Adams 1,878 10.1 18,618
Connecticut Andrew Jackson 4,448 23.0 John Q Adams 1,~,829 71.4 19,378
Georgia Andrew Jackson 19,362 96.8 John Q Adams 642 3.2 20,004
Illinois Andrew Jackson 9,560 67.2 John Q Adams 4,662 32.8 14,222
Indiana Andrew Jackson 22,201 56.6 John Q Adams 17,009 43.4 39,210
Kentucky Andrew Jackson 39,308 55.5 John Q Adams 31,468 44.5 70,776
Louisiana Andrew Jackson 4,605 53.0 John Q Adams 4,082 47.0 8,687
Maine Andrew Jackson 13,927 40.0 John Q Adams 20,773 59.7 34,789
Maryland Andrew Jackson 22,782 49.7 John Q Adams 23,014 50.3 45,796
Massachusetts Andrew Jackson 6,012 15.4 John Q Adams 29,836 76.4 39,074
Mississippi Andrew Jackson 6,763 81.1 John Q Adams 1,581 18.9 8,344
Missouri Andrew Jackson 8,232 70.6 John Q Adams 3,422 29.4 11,654
New Hampshire Andrew Jackson 20,212 45.9 John Q Adams 23,823 54.1 44,035
New Jersey Andrew Jackson 21,809 47.9 John Q Adams 23,753 52.1 45,570
New York Andrew Jackson 139,412 51.4 John Q Adams 131,563 48.6 270,975
North Carolina Andrew Jackson 37,814 73.1 John Q Adams 13,918 26.9 51,747
Ohio Andrew Jackson 67,596 51.6 John Q Adams 63,453 48.4 131,049
Pennsylvania Andrew Jackson 101,457 66.7 John Q Adams 50,763 33.3 152,220
Rhode Island Andrew Jackson 820 22.9 John Q Adams 2,755 77.0 3,580
Tennessee Andrew Jackson 44,293 95.2 John Q Adams 2,240 4.8 46,533
Vermont Andrew Jackson 8,350 25.4 John Q Adams 24,363 74.2 32,833
Virginia Andrew Jackson 26,854 69.0 John Q Adams 12,070 31.0 38,924