The Adams Republican Party was a conservative faction of the Democratic-Republican Party that supported John Quincy Adams' 1824 presidential bid. They supported a strong central government, economic development through federal initiatives, and a focus on modernization, including internal improvements and a national bank. They attracted supporters from the educated elite and those interested in economic modernization, particularly in the Northeast. They found their strongest support in the Northeast and among those who favored a strong national government. Adams Republicans supported tariffs and internal improvements. Adams Republicans shared similar views to the Clay Republican Party on economic modernization and government intervention but were often seen as more elitist and focused on intellectual leadership. While they also supported economic development, they were typically more focused on the interests of the educated elite and established political structures, which sometimes put them at odds with the more populist leanings of Henry Clay's faction.
The factions began to unite more closely after the contentious 1824 election, where the split led to a complex outcome. Andrew Jackson won the popular vote, but no candidate secured a majority in the Electoral College, leading to a decision by the House of Representatives, which elected John Quincy Adams. This event, often referred to as the "Corrupt Bargain," exacerbated tensions and further delineated the factions. In 1825, as the factions sought to consolidate their power against the rising Jacksonian Democrats, the Clay and Adams factions began to formally unite. By 1828, they had effectively merged to form the National Republican Party, which advocated for many of the policies associated with the American System.