Whig Party

The Whig Party was a major political party in the United States during the mid-19th century, active from the early 1830s until the mid-1850s. It was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party, which the Whigs saw as autocratic and detrimental to the country’s economic interests. The Whig Party was named after the British Whigs, who were opposed to the monarchy and supported parliamentary supremacy.

The Whigs supported the supremacy of Congress over the presidency and favored a program of modernization and economic protectionism. They were advocates for a strong federal government, a national bank, high tariffs, and federal funding for internal improvements such as roads and canals. The party drew support from a variety of economic groups, including business owners, farmers, and the professional class, particularly in the North.

The Whig Party was successful in electing two presidents: William Henry Harrison in 1840 and Zachary Taylor in 1848. However, both presidents died in office, which weakened the party’s influence. The Whigs were deeply divided over the issue of slavery, particularly its expansion into new territories, which ultimately led to the party’s decline. The party dissolved in the early 1850s, with many of its members joining the newly formed Republican Party or the American (Know Nothing) Party.