The Whig PartyThe American Whigs formed in opposition to Andrew Jackson, who they perceived as intent on destroying American commerce and industry. Most of the founders of theWhig party were the heirs of Jeffersonian democracy and the Democratic-Republican Party. Led by Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams, the Whigs drew on a Jeffersonian tradition of compromise and balance in government, national unity, territorialexpansion, and support for a national transportation network and domesticmanufacturing.
The Whigs celebrated Henry Clay's vision of the "American System" that promoted rapid economic and industrial growth. They demanded government support for a more modern, market-oriented economy. To that end, Whigs sought to promote faster industrialization through high tariffs, a business-oriented money supply based on anational bank, and a vigorous program of government funded internal improvements. Whigs believed in the importance of education to mold modern republican citizens, and therefore supported public schools.
Whigs and the Slavery Issue: The Compromise of 1850A primary conflict between Democrats and Whigs revolved around California's admission to the union as a free state, which would upset the sectional balance of power between free and slave states in Congress. The result was an arduous legislative battle between Southern and Northern representatives, with the South arguing that Congress and the states did not have the authority to legislate against the territorial expansion of slavery. Realizing that this sectional divide could split the country, Whigs and Democrats came to a compromise that they hoped would prevent secession. The ensuing Compromise of 1850 allowed California to be admitted as a free state, but strengthened the fugitive slave law and made no provisions for how other territories could address the slavery issue.
The Whigs were unable to effectively address the slavery issue after 1850. Their southern members nearly all owned slaves, while the northeastern Whigs represented businessmen who loved national unity and a national market but cared little about slavery. There was no compromise that could keep the Whigs united, which contributinged to the party's demise in the 1850s.
President Millard Filmore
Millard Fillmore, the last Whig President.Demise of the Whigs 1852–1856The election of 1852 marked the final collapse of the Whigs. The deaths of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster that year severely weakened the party, and the Compromise of 1850 fractured the Whigs along pro- and anti-slavery lines.
Finally, in 1854, Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which opened new western territories to slavery. Southern Whigs generally supported the Kansas-Nebraska Act, while Northern Whigs remained strongly opposed to the expansion of slavery into the territories. Most remaining Northern Whigs, including Abraham Lincoln, began to form factions that attacked the Act, appealing to widespread northern outrage over the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. Other Whigs with xenophobic views joined the American Party.
The Democratic PartyThe Democratic Party was formed in the 1830s around President Andrew Jackson and the primary domestic issues of banking and tariffs, which consumed much of Jackson's term. Democrats strongly favored American expansion to new farm lands and the acquisition of new territories. Subsequently, Democrats supported President Polk and the Mexican War. Democrats also opposed elites, industrialists, and the Bank of the United States, which they believed would build up industry at the expense of theyeoman farmer. However, like the Whigs, Democrats were divided along sectional lines on the slavery issue.
President Andrew Jackson
President Andrew Jackson was hailed as the founder of the Democratic Party.While Democrats believed that modern infrastructure and industry were necessary for American prosperity, they believed that it was up to the states to promote market capitalism and sponsor improvement projects. Furthermore, Democrats claimed that modernization should be designed to promote the agrarian vision inherited from Jeffersonian Democracy--the perpetuation of the independent, autonomous yeoman farmer over the wealthy, urban businessman. To that end, Democrats opposed high tariffs, supported free trade, and embraced the Independent Treasury as a device to facilitate the spread of prosperity.
The Sectional Party SplitIn 1854, Democratic senator Stephen Douglas (IL) pushed the Kansas-Nebraska Act through Congress, which allowed for the expansion of slavery into those territories. Given the context of the volatile slavery issue, this promoted a readjustment in party lines and voters, including the collapse of the Whigs. While the Democrats survived, many northern Democrats flocked to the Free Soilers coalition and the newly-formed Republican Party, while Southern, proslavery Democrats formed the Southern Democratic Party. In short, the Democrats became almost entirely a southern party platform, which alienating its northern supporters who resisted the southern proslavery political agenda.
The result of this sharp split in the Democratic Party after 1854 was that Democrats were unable to mobilize an effective, united political platform in order to prevent the Republicans from achieving a majority in the electoral college. This paved the way for the eventual election of Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln in 1860.
The Whigs celebrated Henry Clay's vision of the "American System" that promoted rapid economic and industrial growth. They demanded government support for a more modern, market-oriented economy. To that end, Whigs sought to promote faster industrialization through high tariffs, a business-oriented money supply based on anational bank, and a vigorous program of government funded internal improvements. Whigs believed in the importance of education to mold modern republican citizens, and therefore supported public schools.
Whigs and the Slavery Issue: The Compromise of 1850A primary conflict between Democrats and Whigs revolved around California's admission to the union as a free state, which would upset the sectional balance of power between free and slave states in Congress. The result was an arduous legislative battle between Southern and Northern representatives, with the South arguing that Congress and the states did not have the authority to legislate against the territorial expansion of slavery. Realizing that this sectional divide could split the country, Whigs and Democrats came to a compromise that they hoped would prevent secession. The ensuing Compromise of 1850 allowed California to be admitted as a free state, but strengthened the fugitive slave law and made no provisions for how other territories could address the slavery issue.
The Whigs were unable to effectively address the slavery issue after 1850. Their southern members nearly all owned slaves, while the northeastern Whigs represented businessmen who loved national unity and a national market but cared little about slavery. There was no compromise that could keep the Whigs united, which contributinged to the party's demise in the 1850s.
President Millard Filmore
Millard Fillmore, the last Whig President.Demise of the Whigs 1852–1856The election of 1852 marked the final collapse of the Whigs. The deaths of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster that year severely weakened the party, and the Compromise of 1850 fractured the Whigs along pro- and anti-slavery lines.
Finally, in 1854, Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which opened new western territories to slavery. Southern Whigs generally supported the Kansas-Nebraska Act, while Northern Whigs remained strongly opposed to the expansion of slavery into the territories. Most remaining Northern Whigs, including Abraham Lincoln, began to form factions that attacked the Act, appealing to widespread northern outrage over the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. Other Whigs with xenophobic views joined the American Party.
The Democratic PartyThe Democratic Party was formed in the 1830s around President Andrew Jackson and the primary domestic issues of banking and tariffs, which consumed much of Jackson's term. Democrats strongly favored American expansion to new farm lands and the acquisition of new territories. Subsequently, Democrats supported President Polk and the Mexican War. Democrats also opposed elites, industrialists, and the Bank of the United States, which they believed would build up industry at the expense of theyeoman farmer. However, like the Whigs, Democrats were divided along sectional lines on the slavery issue.
President Andrew Jackson
President Andrew Jackson was hailed as the founder of the Democratic Party.While Democrats believed that modern infrastructure and industry were necessary for American prosperity, they believed that it was up to the states to promote market capitalism and sponsor improvement projects. Furthermore, Democrats claimed that modernization should be designed to promote the agrarian vision inherited from Jeffersonian Democracy--the perpetuation of the independent, autonomous yeoman farmer over the wealthy, urban businessman. To that end, Democrats opposed high tariffs, supported free trade, and embraced the Independent Treasury as a device to facilitate the spread of prosperity.
The Sectional Party SplitIn 1854, Democratic senator Stephen Douglas (IL) pushed the Kansas-Nebraska Act through Congress, which allowed for the expansion of slavery into those territories. Given the context of the volatile slavery issue, this promoted a readjustment in party lines and voters, including the collapse of the Whigs. While the Democrats survived, many northern Democrats flocked to the Free Soilers coalition and the newly-formed Republican Party, while Southern, proslavery Democrats formed the Southern Democratic Party. In short, the Democrats became almost entirely a southern party platform, which alienating its northern supporters who resisted the southern proslavery political agenda.
The result of this sharp split in the Democratic Party after 1854 was that Democrats were unable to mobilize an effective, united political platform in order to prevent the Republicans from achieving a majority in the electoral college. This paved the way for the eventual election of Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln in 1860.