The election of 1828 marked a significant shift towards popular participation in American elections.
The election of 1828 has been called the first truly competitive election in American history. Prior to this, the presidential elections were shaped by different rules where electors cast ballots for two candidates and the one with the most votes became president while the second-place finisher became vice president.
In 1828, Andrew Jackson, representing the Democratic-Republican party, faced John Quincy Adams of the National Republican party. This election marked a shift towards popular participation due to increased voting rights and involvement of the common people, setting the stage for modern elections.