Whig Party

Definition

The Whig Party was a political party in the United States during the 1830s and 1840s that opposed the policies of President Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party. The Whigs advocated for a stronger national government, internal improvements, and a national banking system.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Whig Party emerged in the 1830s as a response to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party.
2. Whigs advocated for a stronger national government, internal improvements like roads and canals, and the establishment of a national banking system.
3. The Whig Party's economic program, known as the American System, was designed to promote economic development and national unity.
4. Whigs were divided on the issue of slavery, with some supporting the expansion of slavery and others opposing it.
5. The Whig Party collapsed in the 1850s due to internal divisions over the issue of slavery and the rise of the Republican Party.

Review Questions

• Explain the Whig Party's stance on the role of the federal government and its policies related to economic development.
  • The Whig Party advocated for a stronger national government and an active role for the federal government in promoting economic development. They supported the establishment of a national banking system, protective tariffs, and federal funding for internal improvements like roads and canals, which were collectively known as the American System. The Whigs believed that these policies would foster economic growth and national unity, in contrast to the Democratic Party's emphasis on states' rights and limited federal power.
• Describe the Whig Party's relationship with President Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party, and how this shaped the Whig Party's political platform.
  • The Whig Party emerged as a political opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party. The Whigs were critical of Jackson's dismantling of the Second Bank of the United States and his use of the veto power to block legislation they supported, such as internal improvements and a national banking system. In response, the Whigs crafted a political platform that directly challenged the Democratic Party's vision for the role of the federal government, advocating for a stronger national government and more active economic policies to promote development and national unity.
• Analyze the Whig Party's position on the issue of slavery and how this contributed to the party's eventual collapse in the 1850s.
  • The Whig Party was divided on the issue of slavery, with some members supporting the expansion of slavery and others opposing it. This internal division within the party made it difficult for the Whigs to take a clear and consistent stance on this highly contentious issue. As the debate over slavery intensified in the 1850s, the Whig Party was unable to maintain its cohesion, leading to its collapse and the rise of the Republican Party, which was more firmly opposed to the expansion of slavery. The Whig Party's inability to resolve the slavery issue ultimately contributed to its downfall and the realignment of the American political landscape in the years leading up to the Civil War.

Related terms

National Bank: A central banking system proposed by the Whigs as an alternative to Andrew Jackson's dismantling of the Second Bank of the United States.

American System:

The Whig economic program that called for a national bank, protective tariffs, and federal funding for internal improvements like roads and canals.

Manifest Destiny:

The belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, which was supported by some Whigs.