The Contrast Between Democrats and Whigs

by C. Liu , Silena Te , A. Wu ,

A.Lei, S. Gallegos, C.Chang

For Mr. Haskvitz’s Class

The Parties

DemocratsThe Democratic Party was formed by supporters of Andrew Jackson, favoring

states’ rights and strict interpretation of the Constitution. Evolved from Anti-federalist factions that opposed the policies of Alexander Hamilton, the Democratic Party paralleled Thomas Jefferson’s opposition to a national bank and wealthy, moneyed interests. The expansion of voting rights and the election of Andrew Jackson signaled the growing power of the American people. Jacksonian policies appealed to a wide variety of voters including small farmers, large plantation owners, city laborers, and state bankers. Even with the Panic of 1837, a severe economic depression, they dominated U.S. politics from 1828 through 1856, winning 6 out of 8 presidential elections.

With the addition of vast new territories in the West during Polk’s Administration, fierce debates on slavery issue led to division within the party and to sectional hostility between North and South, but were temporarily subdued by the Compromise of 1850. However, the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 renewed hostility between North and South and caused the Democratic Party to split apart. Jackson’s banking policies and unsuccessful plan to curb inflation led to people’s panic and gave rise to his rivalry, the Whigs. Nonetheless, the Democratic Party, the nation’s oldest existing party, has played a vital role in the history and politics of the United States, with support from several groups, including many immigrants, Southerners, wage earners, and – since the 1930s – blacks.

WhigsThe Whig party was against President Jackson, favoring a strong congress

and weak executive branch. The party felt he was abusing his power and becoming a monarch instead of a president. The founders, Henry Clay and John Quincy, named the party after a group of Englishmen which had opposed the monarchs during the Revolutionary War. Clay and Quincy were ‘former Republics’ and shared the Federalist idea of modernization and were favored in the North. The Whig Party often nominated war heroes from their party for the presidential elections. Two Whigs became presidents; Zachary Taylor, during a golden age for the Whigs, and Millard Fillmore, who helped push the Compromise of 1850 through Congress. Henry Clay ran for president five times and lost each time; his final contribution was the proposal of the Compromise of 1850. There were many internal conflicts in the Whigs which eventually led to the separation of the members into other parties.

The main internal conflict, the Kansas-Nebraska act, was the final disagreement within the party. Northern Whigs, such as Abraham Lincoln, strongly disagreed and joined the New Republican Party. The Southern Whigs supported the act and formed to create the Constitutional Union Party. Others that had not left joined the Know-Nothing Party because the party disliked “corrupt” Irish and German immigrants. Eventually the support for the Whigs in the South was gone and the party ended. The phrase some parties use against another, “going the way of the Whig,” refers to how the Whigs lost their followers and reason of existence.

The Comparison

WHIGS:-opponents of Andrew Jackson-Looked forward to the future-the party of modernization-spoke to the hopes of Americans-Wanted to use federal and state government to promote economic growth, especially transportation and banks.-Advocated reforms such as temperance and public schools and prison reform.-Were entrepreneurs who favored industry and urban growth and free labor.-Favored gradual territorial expansion over time and opposed the Mexican War.-Believed in progress through internal growth.-Whig ideology of urbanization, industrialization, federal rights, commercial expansion was favored in the North.

DEMOCRATS:- Andrew Jackson supporters- Looked backward to the past- Spoke to the fears of Americans- Opposed banks and corporations as sate legislated economic privilege.-Opposed state-legislated reforms and preferred individual freedom of choice.- Were Jeffersonian agrarians who favored farms and rural independence and the right to own slaves.-Favored rapid territorial expansion over space by purchase or war.- Believed in progress through external growth.- Democratic ideology of agrarianism, slavery, states rights, territorial expansion was favored in the South.

Autobiographies

Henry Clay

Henry Clay, Sr. ( April 12, 1777 – June 29, 1852 )

Henry Clay was born in Virginia and practiced law in both Virginia and Kentucky before beginning his political career. During his lifetime, Clay was well liked and was called the “Great Compromiser” for his ability to help others reach agreements. Being a head figure in the First and Second Political Party, Clay was both the founder and leader of the Whigs Party. He was also a leader in modernizing economics, putting tariffs on industry, improving trade points, and the national bank. He represented Kentucky both in the Senate and House of Representatives, making him a fully influential persona in politics. In 1824, Clay was unsuccessful in bid to become a presidential candidate for the Democratic Republicans but was still appointed Secretary of State by President John Quincy Adams. In 1831, Clay returned to Senate and rose as the leader of the National Republicans party. Trying again for presidential candidate of the National Republicans in 1832 and the Whigs party in 1833, Clay failed both times. After losing presidential candidacy to Zachary Taylor in 1838, Clay had retired to his estate, though returned to Senate not long after in 1849. Clay’s most important achievement could be considered the Compromise of 1850. The compromise helped settle disputes between slavery and territory rights from the Mexican-American War. Henry Clay passed away in his estate at the age of 75 in 1852.

Daniel Webster Daniel Webster Daniel Webster Daniel Webster Daniel Webster Daniel Webster Daniel Webster Daniel Webster Daniel Webster Daniel Webster

Daniel Webster( January 18, 1782 – October 24, 1852 )

Daniel Webster was many things in his lifetime; a husband, lawyer, statesman, and a public speaker. He was a successful lawyer and a leader in the Federalists Party. Webster was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1812 because of his conflict against the War of 1812, which poorly affected New England’s trades. He served a total of 3 terms in Congress before moving to Boston. In the next 6 years he won several major constitutional cases in the Supreme Court and rose as the nation’s leading lawyer and public speaker. In 1827, Webster was elected Senator of Massachusetts from Boston and once again returned to Congress. With the Federalist parties gone, Webster paired up with Henry Clay and the National Republican Party which supported building roads into the West. In 1828, Massachusetts moved from major shipping to manufacturing and Webster supported a high tariff which h had many Southern leaders angry and arguing their rights to null the law. Yet in an 1830 Senate debate, Webster successfully defended the Union. In 1833, President Andrew Jackson and Webster teamed up to suppress South Carolina’s up rise against the tariff. Despite the teamwork, Webster and other Whigs still argue against Jackson. Webster become one of the three Whig candidates for Presidency in 1836, though he only carried Massachusetts and suffered a loss. He was still appointed by President William Henry Harrison as Secretary of State in 1841. Soon after, in April, President Harrison died and John Tyler took over office. In September 1841, a skirmish among the Whigs over the National Bank caused all the Whigs in Tyler’s office to resign, all but Webster. In 1842, he was the leader of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty, which resolved the Caroline Affair, established the definite border between the United States and Canada, and signaled a lasting peace between the United States and Britain. Webster fell to Whig pressure in May 1842 and finally left the cabinet. He was once again appointed Secretary of State by President Millard Fillmore in 1850 and served until his death in 1852. He died from a brain hemorrhage after falling off his horse.

James K. PolkJames K. PolkJames K. PolkJames K. PolkJames K. PolkJames K. PolkJames K. PolkJames K. Polk

James Knox Polk( November 2, 1795 – June 15, 1849 )

James K. Polk was born and raised in North Carolina. He entered politics as a young lawyer and befriended Andrew Jackson. He served as part of Tennessee’s legislature and served as the Speaker in the House of Representatives from 1835 to 1839, later becoming the Governor of Tennessee. After his 2-year term, when Polk failed to get reelected, many thought his political career was over. Yet Polk strongly returned in 1844 when two of the Democrats Presidential candidate failed to be nominated and he was chosen instead. He challenged the famous Henry Clay of the Whigs Party with the promise to help expand America westward. Though critics argued that his decisions may lead to wars against others, many agreed with his beliefs and he was voted president. During his term, Polk achieved greatness and conquered obstacles. He expanded America’s western land by over 800,000 square miles, lowered tariffs, and changed the border of slavery. In 1849, Polk left office after one term and retired to his home. He died of cholera three months later just as Americans began moving westward in search of Californian gold.

Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson ( March 15, 1796 – June 8, 1845 )

Andrew Jackson was born in the Carolinas and began studying law at a young age. He was fierce about his honor and was a successful young lawyer. Jackson was also the first man from Tennessee to be voted into the House of Representatives and served in the Senate for a short time. During the War of 1812, Jackson was a general who led to the defeat of the British in New Orleans, becoming a national hero. Jackson began his politics on a presidential level in 1824. The lection was yet referred to as the “Stolen Election” because of the way Jackson lost. He won the popularity vote easily but did not gain enough electoral votes to become president. In the end, John Quincy Adams won and appointed Henry Clay his Secretary of State, angering Jackson for suspicion of Adams paying Clay for his votes. Until the year 1828, Jackson criticized Adams publicly and gained favor of the people. This propaganda worked as Jackson defeated both Adams and Clay in the 1828 and 1832 elections. During his years of presidency of 1829-1837, Jackson accomplished much greatness and left behind a legacy. He settled South Carolina’s wishes to nullify their tariffs, increased America’s size by purchasing 132 million acres of land, and lived through an assassination attempt among many others. After his presidency, Jackson retired to his home for either years of retirement and died in 1845 at the age of 78 of heart failure.

The Test

Test Questions1. Who were the two main founders who opposed the Federalists and formed the

Democratic Party?2. The Whig Party was a political party of the U.S. during the era of what

democracy?3. Which president did the Whig Party oppose?4. Which party did the Whig Party oppose?5. Which political party is the oldest political party in the U.S. – the Whig or

Democratic Party?6. Which group did the Whig Party support for the supremacy over the Executive

Branch? 7. Who was the preeminent leader of the Whig Party?8. The Democratic-Republicans opposed a treaty which restored peace with

Britain. What was this treaty called?9. Which four candidates of the Whig Party became president of the U.S.?10. Which party became the Democrat’s main opponent after the decline of the

Federalist Party?11. Which president became a Whig after he was elected to the House of

Representatives in 1831?

Test Questions ( Continued )12. Which party, led by Alexander Hamilton, opposed the Democratic Party?13. Jefferson and Madison announced principles through the Kentucky and

Virginia Resolutions, which made states’ rights a keystone of the party’s beliefs. What were these principles called?

14. Who was the last presidential nominee in the U.S. Whig Party in 1860?15. Which person in the Whig Party won the election in 1848 as vice president?16. Out of the four presidents from the Whig Party, which president (vice

president) was official expelled from the Whig Party in 1841?17. What democracy was the set of political goals that were named after Thomas

Jefferson?18. Which race of men did Jacksonians believe in enfranchising?19. The Jacksonians favored geographical expansion, justifying it by calling it

what?20. Which party finally collapsed in 1852 due to the division on slavery and

nativism [what word is thatttttt?]?21. Which Republican president, elected in 1860, caused Democrats to fear that

his election would lead to the Civil War?22. Which two presidents from the Whigs Party won the election but died in

office?

Test Answers1. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison2. Jacksonian Democracy3. Andrew Jackson4. The Democratic Party5. The Democratic Party6. Congress7. Henry Clay8. Jay Treaty9. William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, John Tyler, and Millard Fillmore10. Whig Party11. John Quincy Adams12. Federalist Party13. “Principles of 1798”14. John Bell15. Millard Fillmore16. John Tyler

Test Answers ( Continued )

17. Jeffersonian Democracy

18. White men

19. Manifest Destiny

20. Whig Party

21. Abraham Lincoln

22. William Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor

The Sources

BibliographyHenry Clay, Sr.

1. (2007). Henry Clay. from The Library of Congress Web site: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jun29.html

Daniel Webster

1. Nathans, Sydney (1995). Daniel Webster. Web site: http://www.marshfield.net/History/webster.htm

2. Webster, Daniel. from Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Web site: http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000238

James Knox Polk

1. James K. Polk: Biography. from James K. Polk Ancestrial Home Web site: http://jameskpolk.com/new/biography.asp

2. Biography of James Polk. from The White House Web site: http://whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jp11.html

Andrew Jackson

1. Biography of Andrew Jackson. from The White House Web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/aj7.html

2. (2004). Andrew Jackson. from The State Library of North Carolina Web site: http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/nc/bio/public/jackson.htm

Bibliography( continued )

Democracy1. (2007). Democratic Party (United States). from Wikipedia Web site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States)

2. The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago, IL: World Book, Inc., 2006. Vol. 5

Whigs1. (2007). Whig Party (United States). from Wikipedia Web site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whig_Party_%28United_States%29

December 2nd, 2007( Haskvitz )