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Why did John Quincy Adams become president in 1824 despite Andrew Jackson leading in popular and electoral votes?

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Alabama certificate showing the state's electors' votes — Electoral College A certificate from Alabama showing the signatures of the state's electors in 2000. The nine electors voted for George W. Bush and his running mate Dick Cheney.

In the election of 1824, Andrew Jackson won a plurality of both the popular and electoral votes, but he failed to secure the required majority in the Electoral College.12

Under the Twelfth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the election was referred to the House of Representatives, which was tasked with choosing the president from the top three candidates: Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and William H. Crawford.12

Henry Clay, who had finished fourth, was eliminated from contention but remained a powerful figure as Speaker of the House. Clay resolved to support Adams, believing Jackson was unfit for the presidency and finding that his own political views on issues like protective tariffs and internal improvements aligned more closely with those of Adams. Through his influence, Clay helped secure the necessary support for Adams, who was elected on the first ballot. Following the election, Adams appointed Clay as secretary of state, leading Jackson’s supporters to denounce the arrangement as a "corrupt bargain" intended to deprive Jackson of the presidency.321