Jackson as President in 1824
* It is hard to find a president more petty, more vindictive, more vicious, and more determined than Jackson. When Jackson lost the election in 1824, he resigned as congressman and spent the next four years undermining President John Quincy Adams, just so he could get elected. Jackson believed he had won the election in 1824, but he did not. There were four major candidates, and none of them won enough votes to be declared the winner.
* The election went into the House of Representatives. Jackson had the most popular (40%) and electoral (99 of the 133 needed) votes and so believed he should have been chosen. This kind of situation was new to the US, though common in Europe. In Europe and indeed every nation with a Parliament system, what happens even today is that parties bargain back and forth. Parties form coalitions, with each getting something.
* This is what happened in 1824. Henry Clay agreed to support Adams since their stances on many issues were fairly close. Clay also believed Jackson was too ignorant and unqualified to be president. Clay was offered Secretary of State. Jackson claimed there was a “corrupt bargain.” He and his supporters claimed the two were rewarding their followers with government offices. But Jackson did the exact same practice once elected, even calling it the Spoils System.
* For Jackson to become president in 1824 is as easy as Clay releasing his supporters to vote for who they choose. While most would likely still support Adams, even a few, plus a few of the other candidate William Crawford, would be enough for Jackson to be elected.
* The main difference is that the Trail of Tears begins earlier. Adams made a failed effort to halt the forced removal of the Choctaw nation from their homeland. (See Section Nine.) He realized the Treaty of the Dancing Rabbit was invalid, since the Choctaws who signed it had no authority to do so. Adams called for a renegotiation of the treaty. The state of Georgia threatened any such negotiation. Georgia racists began seizing Choctaw land, even daring the federal government to try and stop them. Adams hesitated and finally back down.
* Jackson would not even have made the effort to halt a fraudulent treaty. Instead the Choctaw would have been forced off that much sooner, perhaps violently. It is also likely the timetable for forcibly removing the other four tribes is moved up. The state of Georgia had actually started trying to remove Cherokees on its own, fearing the federal government would not. But with Jackson that is unnecessary. An earlier Trail of Tears likely means a more unprepared tribe and thus a higher body count.
* What about wars overseas? Adams was one of the most skilled secretaries of State the US ever had, negotiating many treaties and formulating the Monroe Doctrine. As President, Jackson was lucky Adam's successes freed him from major crises. For Jackson was an incredible blunderer, one of the least diplomatic presidents. Jackson threatened France with military reprisals over an unpaid debt. The crisis was only defused by British intervention. Jackson also sent an agent, Anthony Butler, to Mexico to try to buy Texas. Butler tried to bribe Mexican officials, and suspicions that began under Jackson would play a part eventually leading to the US-Mexico War. An earlier Jackson presidency, without four years of Adam's cushion, could lead to more conflict with France and Mexico.
* Both nations were more chaotic in 1824-28 than later in 1828-32. France was led by absolute monarchist Charles X, though there were many liberals and constitutional monarchists. Charles X held absolute power and could have threatened or gone to war more easily than under later more liberal government.
* In 1824, Mexico had just changed from an empire to a republic, kicking out self styled Emperor Iturbide, and only three years earlier had finally gained independence from Spain after over a decade of war. A more chaotic Mexico is more likely to stumble into war with the US. In neither case is war certain, only more likely.