pc i electing the president-john quincy adams and 1824-student program

8/2/2019 PC I Electing the President-John Quincy Adams and 1824-Student Program

1/15

Educating Young People about the Constitution

www.BillofRightsInstitute.org

Presidents and the

ConstitutionElecting The President

John Quincy Adams and the

Election of 1824


2/15

Presidents and the Constitution Resources

2

At the Jacob Riis Polling Station in the East Village,

one voter admitted voting for Obama because he wascute (1).

In a letter to the Berkshire Eagle, published Sunday:"Some people who voted for George W. Bush did so

solely because he seems like the kind of guy youcould sit down and have a beer with. (2).

These two quotes are actual reasons why people casttheir vote for President. Do many people vote for

these reasons? Should we continue to have theElectoral College?

Directions: Read Dr. Marc Landys Essay on pages120-122. Underline or highlight the facts you thinkare important.

(1)http://journalism.nyu.edu/publishing/archives/pavement/archive/polling-place-draw-voters-old-and-young-passive-and-pumped/print/index.html

(2)http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2008/09/want-a-presiden/
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3/15

Constitutional Connection Activity

3

Electing The President


4/15

Critical Engagement Question

Did the Constitution work as the Founders intended inthe election of 1824?

4

showsresults ofElection of1824 as

decided bymembers ofthe UnitedStatesHouse ofRepresentat

ives

John Quincy Adams and the Election of 1824


5/15


Objectives

Understand the role of theHouse of Representatives inpresidential elections.

Analyze what the popular

vote meant in 1824. Evaluate the effectiveness of the

Electoral College in light of theelection of 1824.

Evaluate the success of theconstitutional procedures forpresidential elections.

5


6/15

Background/Homework

Handout A: John Quincy Adams and the Electionof 1824

1. Who were the top 4 candidates in the Electionof 1824?

2. What happened when the Electoral College

Voted?3. What does the Constitution say happens when

no candidate receives a majority of electoralvotes? Why do you think the Foundersdecided on this procedure?

4. What was Henry Clays role in the Election of1824?

5. Adamss election to the Presidency cameabout exactly as the Constitution required. Do youthink he deserved the attacks from Jackson? Why

or Why not? 6



7/15

Warm-Up

Look over Handout B:Counting the Votes

Role Play-assume the roleson the handout, introduce

yourself, and explain howyou fared in the election.

Everyone else shouldimagine themselves as a

member of the House ofRepresentatives fromHandout C: Votes by States.

7



8/15

Warm-Up continued

Discuss these questions:1) Which candidate seems to

have won?

2) What is a majority?

3) What is a plurality?

4) What happens when youchange the state groupings bygeography? By small vs. large

populations. Or by industrialvs. agrarian states?

8



9/15

Activity

Staying in your roles from the Warm-Up House members should vote among the top three candidates,

with each state having one vote. Those portraying Adams, Clay, Crawford, and Jackson should

take active roles in persuading states to vote for them.

9Henry Clay



10/15

Wrap Up

Compare and contrast your voting results with the results fromthe actual House vote in 1824.

What were the reasons for the similarities or differences inoutcomes?

10

Actual tally of thevotes cast in the

House vote of theElection of 1824



11/15

Day 2Warm-Up

Argue for and against the

following statement: Did theConstitutional system of

presidential election fail in 1824?

Use Handout D to evaluate the

facts and prepare arguments.

11



12/15

Day 2

ActivityPresent your arguments from the Warm Up in a fishbowl

debate. Each fishbowl debate should last 2-3 minutes.

12

CandidatesDean Barkley,Norm Coleman,and Al Franken

shake hands atthe close of thedebate forSenator fromMinnesota, 2008



13/15

Wrap Up

Evaluate the days debates.1) Did the popular vote as we

know it today exist in 1824?2) Did the Constitution work as it

was designed to work?3) Jackson accused Adams and

clay of striking a corruptbargain. If Adams did indeedpromise to appoint Clay asSecretary of State in exchange

for his support, is that corrupt?4) Do you think the Electoral

College system should bereformed or abolished? If itwere, how would campaigns

change? 13



14/15

Extension

Compare and Contrast a quote from President Andrew Jacksonsfirst annual Message to Congress (next slide) with modern dayarguments about the Electoral College. You can find modern dayarguments for the Electoral College by Googling modernarguments electoral college

14



15/15

Extension continued

15


Our system of government was by its framers deemed an experiment,and they therefore consistently provided a mode of remedying its defects.To the people belongs the right of electing their Chief Magistrate; it wasnever designed that their choice should in any case be defeated, either by

the intervention of electoral colleges or by the agency confided, undercertain contingencies, to the House of Representatives. Experience provesthat in proportion as agents to execute the will of the people aremultiplied there is danger of their wishes being frustrated. Some may beunfaithful; all are liable to err. So far, therefore, as the people can withconvenience speak, it is safer for them to express their own will.

Selected quote from President Jacksons First Annual Message toCongress. December 8, 1829

pc i electing the president-john quincy adams and 1824-student program

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