Corrupt Bargain! The Election of 1824

The election of 1824 was a "corrupt bargain" according to John Quincy Adams' defeated presidential candidate Andrew Jackson. What was the story behind this heated and contested election?
Andrew Jackson wins a "plurality" but not a "majority." A plurality vote is when a candidate wins more votes than any other but does not receive more than half of all votes cast. Since none of the 4 candidates won a "majority," the election was thrown to the House of Representatives.