(Glorious America) 1828 Presidential Election

The 1828 United States presidential election was the 11th quadrennial presidential election and it was held from Friday, October 31 to Tuesday, December 2, 1828.

The election was extremely close with winner Sam Houston winning the election narrowly by just 2 electoral votes. The election was decided by 1,201 votes in New York.

Before the election
Leading up to the election, conventions were held for each party. The first was the Federalist convention, which was held from December 29, 1827 - January 3, 1828. President Adams attempted to get Solomon Southwick, a Famous Anti-Mason and Governor of New York to get nominated, but the party establishment chose Vice President Clay, which infuriated Adams. Adams after the election, would go on to create the Anti-Masonic Party with Solomon Southwick, Thurlow Weed, and William A. Palmer. (among a few others)

The Democratic-Republican convention would be held a couple months later, and would be held from March 21 - March 23, 1828. The Convention was extremely close, with notable candidates like: William H. Crawford, William Hendricks, John Chandler, George Troup, Martin Van Buren, Richard M. Johnson, and Philip P. Barbour. Though, the only serious candidates were Van Buren, Johnson, Crawford, and Houston. Houston won the nomination narrowly, but a group of states' rights Democratic-Republicans nicknamed the "Fire eaters' walked out of the convention and nominated Georgia Governor George Troup for President.

When searching for running mates, Houston had a list of over 20 names, he decided on former Vice President Aaron Burr to be his running mate, which was controversial for Burrs possible reason in President Hamiltons death 20 years ago.

The election
Sam Houston, the hard drinking governor of Tennessee, narrowly won election by only 2 electoral votes and 1,000 votes in New York. many Federalists nicknamed the election the "Hou-steal" and attempted to overturn the election results, but Clay denounced the attempts.

Aftermath
Houston's first inauguration, on March 4, 1829, was the first time in which the ceremony was held on the East Portico of the United States Capitol. Ten thousand people arrived in town for the ceremony, eliciting this response from Francis Scott Key: "It is beautiful; it is sublime!" Houston was the first president to invite the public to attend the White House inaugural ball. Many poor people came to the inaugural ball in their homemade clothes and rough-hewn manners. The crowd became so large that the guards could not keep them out of the White House, which became so crowded with people that dishes and decorative pieces inside were broken. Former President Adams, who attended the inauguration, had to escape out from a window to escape the crowd.

The Secession Crisis
President Houston strongly opposed Indian removal & personally led a delegation to the Cherokee, living among them for several weeks, for which some mocked him.

Georgia attempted to remove the Cherokee itself, with Houston arguing they couldn’t as it was a matter of federal policy. As the tension rose several Southerners led by South Carolina Senator Robert Y. Hayne declared that states have the right to nullify federal law, which even many Georgians dispute, further dividing the state. As this crisis began to snowball, Secretary of State William Crawford suffered debilitating stroke & Edward B. Dudley was chosen to take his place, only months after Secretary of War Andrew Jackson resigned over a disagreement on Indian Removal with Houston.

David Henshaw was the only cabinet member to support Georgia and confronted Houston in his office, threatening him and reminding him of the role Henshaw played in his nomination, Houston fired him in response and a furious Henshaw began to organize a convention challenge to Houston. George Troup raised a Georgia militia and began organizing the national guard, threatening violence against any federal soldiers who entered the state. In response, Houston mobilized the military under the command of Andrew Jackson & sent troops into the border South; South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi then joined Georgia in raising independent forces.

Other Policy/Events
Under the pressure of Houston & his allies “Houstonian Democracy” has risen as voting rights have been extended in almost all states to non-landowners. Houston lowered tariffs so they still collect large amounts of revenue but are not protectionist and has downsized federal infrastructure within single states, instead only continuing interstate programs.

Some congressional Democratic-Republicans joined with the Federalists to recharter the national bank, but President Houston vetoed the recharter & the bank expired in 1831. Houston has focused on paying off the national debt & has made more progress on the issue than any president since Jefferson.

Some Federalists, with little evidence, accused Houston of winning the 1828 election fraudulently, partisan Federalists in the press who believe the accusations labeled him “Hou-steal.”

Cabinet
ice President: Aaron Burr

Secretary of State: William Crawford (1829-1831 (resigned after a stroke)), Edward B. Dudley (1831-1833)

Secretary of the Treasury: David Henshaw (1829-1830 (removed over Georgia Indian removal controversy)), Benjamin W. Crowninshield (1830-1833),

Secretary of War: Andrew Jackson (1829-1830 (removed over disagreement on Indian removal)), Henry A.P Muhlenberg (1830-1833)

Attorney General: Joel Poinsett

Postmaster General: Azariah Flagg

Secretary of the Navy: Henry A.P Muhlenberg (1829-1831 (promoted)), Stephen Decatur (1831-1833)

Secretary of the Interior: Edward B. Dudley (1829-1831 (promoted)), Davy Crockett (1831-1833) Early on many in his cabinet attempt to influence him, thinking they can control the 35 year old alcoholic, but they soon learn that President Houston is fiercely independent. Houston gravitates towards Burr, seeing the elderly founder as a grandfather figure, and Burr helps him overcome his alcoholism. Burr, Dudley, Crowninshield, and Muhlenberg become Houston’s closest allies in his cabinet.