From his base in New York state he collaborated with [[Andrew Jackson]] to create the new Democrat Party, and was campaign director for Jackson his victories in 1828 and 1832. Van Buren was elected himself in 1836, but was unable to reverse the Depression of 1837, and was defeated for reelection by a newly invigorated [[Whig Party]] under [[William Henry Harrison]]. Temporarily opposed to slavery,<ref>[https://www.accessible-archives.com/2017/08/martin-van-buren-slavery/ Martin Van Buren and Slavery]</ref> he was a leader of the anti-slavery Democrats who supported the [[Wilmot Proviso]] against the expansion of slavery, and he founded the [[Free Soil Party]], being its presidential nominee in 1848. | From his base in New York state he collaborated with [[Andrew Jackson]] to create the new Democrat Party, and was campaign director for Jackson his victories in 1828 and 1832. Van Buren was elected himself in 1836, but was unable to reverse the Depression of 1837, and was defeated for reelection by a newly invigorated [[Whig Party]] under [[William Henry Harrison]]. Temporarily opposed to slavery,<ref>[https://www.accessible-archives.com/2017/08/martin-van-buren-slavery/ Martin Van Buren and Slavery]</ref> he was a leader of the anti-slavery Democrats who supported the [[Wilmot Proviso]] against the expansion of slavery, and he founded the [[Free Soil Party]], being its presidential nominee in 1848. |