What was a consequence of the lack of majority in the 1824 election?

The 1824 presidential election was notable for being the first election in which no candidate received a majority of the electoral votes. As a result, the decision on who would become president was handed over to the House of Representatives, as stipulated by the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution. This unique situation arose because four candidates—John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William H. Crawford, and Henry Clay—each garnered significant electoral support, but none achieved the necessary majority.

In the House, each state delegation was given one vote to determine the president from among the top three candidates, which ultimately allowed John Quincy Adams to be elected even though Andrew Jackson had received the most popular and electoral votes. This situation highlighted the challenges and complexities of the electoral process in the early years of the American republic, particularly in a time of growing political factions and regional interests.