WI: Andrew Jackson supports John Quincy Adams in 1824?

The title might seem strange, the two biggest enemies of early expanding America teaming up, but it nearly came to pass.

During the First Seminole War, the Hero or New Orleans Andrew Jackson was sent by President Monroe to do one thing, force the Creeks and Seminoles to submit to the United States. During his time there Jackson learned they were being supplied by the British and Spanish, specifically in Spanish-held Florida. Thus Jackson decided to invade, kill the resisting Indians, and expel the ill-equipped Spaniards. His invasion earned him the scorn of much of Monroe's cabinet, including Secretary of the Treasury William Crawford. Nearly all of them blamed Jackson illegally invading the territory of a nation they were not at war with. Spain demanded his head, and only Secretary of State Adams backed Jackson on this, due to their then shared belief of Manifest Destiny. He used the weakness of the Spanish Colonial forces to give them an ultimatum, bring troops and back up your claim to Florida or have it taken. After a period of being Military Governor, Jackson left Florida to rest in Tennesse. He favored Adams for his outspoken support in Florida, and nearly let it end there.

But it didn't. His enemies in Tennessee renominated John Williams to the Senate, who announced his support for Crawford, and Jackson's supporters hastily elected Jackson to the Senate instead to prevent Williams from being re-elected. This gave a major boost to the then half-hearted Jackson Campaign. The rest is history from there.

Given all this, I think Adams would win a clear majority come November. He'd tale New England of course, would likely get Pennsylvania, Tennessee, New Jersey, Mississippi, and would avoid Van Buren's manipulation of New York's votes (which he did to prevent Clay and Crawford tying for 3rd place). Clay would still have the support of Kentucky and Missouri (home state and the state which bequeathed him the title Great Compromise), but Ohio would be thrown to Adams. Indiana is a possible pick up (he scored 2nd to Jackson), but other then that it's likely Adams sweeps his and Jackson's OTL states.

Assuming he does so I'm curious how a first term would go for Adams with a clear majority, the lack of a Jacksonian Democratic coalition, and the disintegration of the Republicans and Federalists. Another important thing to note is the Treaty of Indian Springs, where the Georgia Government made a bad deal with the Creeks and took most of their land, when Adams found out about this late (due to the electoral shenanigans giving him a late start), he mobilised the army to inforce a new treaty and eventually backed down. This is important for several reasons, the biggest of which is that it fired up the States Rights extremists into mainstream positions. The biggest turncoat was John Calhoun, up until then a big Nationalist. If Adams came in without a fuss (and perhaps willing to lend his ear to the fellow Nationalist Jackson), that would butterfly away many problems later on.

What do you guys think?
 
One interesting butterfly here could well be that congressional delegations choose their party's (or faction's) presidential ticket. That alone would be profound.
 
One interesting butterfly here could well be that congressional delegations choose their party's (or faction's) presidential ticket. That alone would be profound.

The Congressional nominating caucus? As I understand it William Crawford was the 1824 nominee, so it might still end up being junked for another system. Although only about half showed up to it I believe, so it may have been dying anyways at that point.
 
I hate Andrew Jackson

But anyways you already provided a POD

Instead of John Williams someone who doesn't Crawford
 
"You know my private opinion of Mr. Adams: Talents, virtues, and integrity, and I am free to declare that I have never changed this opinion of Mr. Adams since it was first formed, I think him a man of the first rate mind of any in America as a civilian and scholar, and I have never doubted of his attachment to our republican Government…[I am] at liberty to say in my name both to my friends and enemies — that I will as far as my influence extends support Mr. Adams unless Mr. Calhoun should be brought forward."

- Andrew Jackson, stating that he would commit to supporting John Quincy Adams for President in 1824 unless John C. Calhoun entered the race, in a personal letter to James Gadsden, December 6, 1821. (From deadpresidents)

Been a while, thought I might dragged this from the depths of hell to see if anyone has any new thoughts on the matter.
 
I read in a book on Presidential Elections that Adams wanted Jackson as his VP. some people came up this as a slogan " John Quincy Adams who can write' Andrew Jackson who can fight."
 
Jackson made War Hero VP, like RM Johnson and TR?

Possible, although Jackson never struck me as the kind of man who'd want to be Vice-President. In fact he pretty firmly wanted to return to his plantation and retire from politics and military fun before the 1824 election, but the seductiveness of the office lead to him running and forming his own party and shaping American history.

I read in a book on Presidential Elections that Adams wanted Jackson as his VP. some people came up this as a slogan " John Quincy Adams who can write' Andrew Jackson who can fight."

If I remember correctly that was a battle slogan in favor of Jackson, as in "sure Mr. Snooty Half-Federalist can write, but can he fight like a real man??
 
"You know my private opinion of Mr. Adams: Talents, virtues, and integrity, and I am free to declare that I have never changed this opinion of Mr. Adams since it was first formed, I think him a man of the first rate mind of any in America as a civilian and scholar, and I have never doubted of his attachment to our republican Government…[I am] at liberty to say in my name both to my friends and enemies — that I will as far as my influence extends support Mr. Adams unless Mr. Calhoun should be brought forward."

- Andrew Jackson, stating that he would commit to supporting John Quincy Adams for President in 1824 unless John C. Calhoun entered the race, in a personal letter to James Gadsden, December 6, 1821. (From deadpresidents)

Been a while, thought I might dragged this from the depths of hell to see if anyone has any new thoughts on the matter.

That one quote alone is enough for a timeline to begin.
 
That one quote alone is enough for a timeline to begin.

I want to but I'm always hesitant on taking up big projects, and I've already got other stuff stewing. So I just throw it out to the wilds and hope someone adopts the idea. Truly I am a terrible parent.
 
This thread reminds me of Eric Flint's AH book 1824: The Arkansas War, which involves John Quincy Adams throwing his support behind Andrew Jackson, in an (unsuccessful) attempt to prevent Henry Clay from winning the Presidency. By the end of the book they, along with Richard Mentor Johnson, Martin Van Buren and Thomas Hart Benton, among others, join together to start a new political party which is even more radical than the OTL Republican Party.
 
Last edited:
Assuming he does so I'm curious how a first term would go for Adams with a clear majority, the lack of a Jacksonian Democratic coalition, and the disintegration of the Republicans and Federalists. Another important thing to note is the Treaty of Indian Springs, where the Georgia Government made a bad deal with the Creeks and took most of their land, when Adams found out about this late (due to the electoral shenanigans giving him a late start), he mobilised the army to inforce a new treaty and eventually backed down. This is important for several reasons, the biggest of which is that it fired up the States Rights extremists into mainstream positions. The biggest turncoat was John Calhoun, up until then a big Nationalist. If Adams came in without a fuss (and perhaps willing to lend his ear to the fellow Nationalist Jackson), that would butterfly away many problems later on.

What do you guys think?

Unrelated, but "Adams doesn't back down in the face of the Governor mobilizating militia against him and sends federal troops into Georgia to enforce the second treaty (made legally with the Creek rather than the illegal first version) and the two sides end up clashing" could be an interesting potential-POD in its own right.

I think it would make Adams horribly unpopular, but it would also pour gasoline on the States' Rights extremist movement, potentially leading them to secession and civil war, or alternatively defeat and dissolution if the rest of the country turns against them.

(All this potential chaos is probably a good reason for why Adams didn't do it)
 
Last edited:
Top