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[[image:Whigflyer.jpg|300px|thumb|Flyer for a Whig Party meeting in Augusta, Georgia 1844.]]

[[image:Whigflyer.jpg|300px|thumb|Flyer for a Whig Party meeting in Augusta, Georgia 1844.]]

The '''Whig Party''', named after the Whigs of [[Great Britain]], was formed in [[America]] in 1833 in response to [[Democratic]] [[President]] [[Andrew Jackson]]'s actions to increase the power of the executive branch. [[Henry Clay]] and [[Daniel Webster]] were members of a political party called the [[National Republicans]] who began to find common ground with southern Democrats such as [[John C. Calhoun]].  They argued that Jackson's powers were becoming "king-like" and began referring to the Democratic Party as the [[Tories]] (loyalists to the British monarchy during the [[American Revolution]]); hence they adopted the title of Whigs for their party.

The '''Whig Party''' (1834-1856) was formed in [[America]] in 1833 in response to [[Democratic]] [[President]] [[Andrew Jackson]]'s actions to increase the power of the executive branch. [[Henry Clay]] and [[Daniel Webster]] were members of a political party called the [[National Republicans]] who began to find common ground with southern Democrats such as [[John C. Calhoun]].  They argued that Jackson's powers were becoming "king-like" and began referring to the Democratic Party as the [[Tories]] (loyalists to the British monarchy during the [[American Revolution]]); hence they adopted the title of Whigs for their party.

As a whole, the party was not very successful.  Two Whigs were elected to the presidency, [[William Henry Harrison]] and [[Zachary Taylor]]; however, neither completed his term in office.  The ultimate downfall of the party was the issue of [[slavery]], with northern Whigs supporting abolitionism and the southern Whigs supporting the current institutions.

As a whole, the party was not very successful.  Two Whigs were elected to the presidency, [[William Henry Harrison]] and [[Zachary Taylor]]; however, neither completed his term in office.  The ultimate downfall of the party was the issue of [[slavery]], with northern Whigs supporting abolitionism and the southern Whigs supporting the current institutions.