Might just be answering your homework for you, but new to AskHistorians so I might as well answer a question I can give an adequate answer to.

The First Party System had ended in the early 1820s, leading to the 1824 election not really having any parties represented in the election. This led to a four-horse race of guys who all identified as Democratic Republicans (Andrew Jackson, John Q. Adams, Henry Clay, and William Crawford).

This is the first election we see where the man with the most votes (Jackson) lost due to not having electoral college votes. The election went to the House where it is said Clay and Adams formed a deal. Clay, who was Speaker of the House, dropped out of the race (Crawford had dropped earlier, I believe due to illness?) and would convince Congress to appoint Adams president on the condition he (Clay) was appointed as Adams's Secretary of State.

Jackson was VERY loud and outspoken about this "Corrupt Bargain", as it became to be known. This also caused a rift in the Democratic Republicans, with Jackson breaking off and becoming the leader of the Democrats while Clay's faction became the new Whigs.

Following this was the first time the average American person was heavily invested in politics. Politics became a main conversation piece, and for the first time citizens were identifying themselves by party. Voter turnouts in this period are still the highest they have been throughout American history.