Which election is often noted as the first time a candidate was elected through a majority vote in the House of Representatives?

The election often noted as the first time a candidate was elected through a majority vote in the House of Representatives is the Election of 1824. This election is significant because it marked a pivotal moment in American political history where none of the candidates secured a majority of the electoral votes. As a result, the decision was ultimately made by the House of Representatives, which had the responsibility of electing the president according to the procedures established by the Constitution.

In the Election of 1824, four candidates received electoral votes: John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William H. Crawford, and Henry Clay. Jackson received the most popular and electoral votes but did not achieve the necessary majority. The House selected Adams as president after a contentious decision, highlighting the evolving political landscape and the influence of the legislative body in presidential elections at that time.

This election also sowed the seeds for a shift in political dynamics, as the outcome created tension between Jackson's supporters and those of Adams, leading to the formation of new political parties and an era of increased voter engagement in subsequent elections.