Coffin Handbills

The Coffin Handbills were a series of pamphlets attacking Andrew Jackson during the 1828 United States presidential election.

Andrew Jackson had a reputation as a national hero because of his leadership during the Battle of New Orleans that was the final action of the War of 1812.

The poster showcased six black coffins at the top of the pamphlet and claimed that Jackson had ordered the execution of six militiamen during the Creek War.

[2] Another twelve coffins were displayed further down the page to represent regular soldiers and Indians who were put to death under Jackson's command.

[7] A "Supplemental account of some of the bloody deeds of General Jackson", attributed to Virginia Congressman John Taliaferro, accused Jackson of "atrocious and unnatural acts"; such acts including slaughtering 1,000 unarmed Native Americans, taking a nap in the midst of their corpses, and eating a dozen of them for breakfast.

Adams eventually won the election in the House of Representatives by making a deal with Clay that Jackson supporters dubbed the "corrupt bargain."

When Jackson arrived in Washington DC, he was to pay the customary courtesy call on the outgoing president, but he refused to do so.