Changes

===Party politics===

===Party politics===

Pike began his political career affiliated with the Southern element of the Whig Party,<ref>The Whigs were a loose coalition united mostly on economic issues, and slavery divided the party. The Northern factions were divided between "Conscience Whig" abolitionists and compromisers/appeasers, while Southern Whigs often competed with their Democratic rivals for the pro-slavery badge.</ref> though abandoned it due to its lacking sound stance on the issue of slavery, which exacerbated in prominence following the Mexican–American War Pike eagerly supported.<ref name=arencyclopedia/>

Pike began his political career affiliated with the Southern element of the Whig Party,<ref group=note>The Whigs were a loose coalition united mostly on economic issues, and slavery divided the party. The Northern factions were divided between "Conscience Whig" abolitionists and compromisers/appeasers, while Southern Whigs often competed with their Democratic rivals for the pro-slavery badge.</ref> though abandoned it due to its lacking sound stance on the issue of slavery, which exacerbated in prominence following the Mexican–American War Pike eagerly supported.<ref name=arencyclopedia/>

He joined the [[Know Nothing Party]] upon its establishment due to his anti-Catholic viewpoints, and attended its 1856 national convention.<ref name=arencyclopedia/> However, since the party refused to insert a pro-slavery plank into its platform, Pike joined fellow Southern delegates in walking out of the convention. He later affiliated with the Democratic Party.

He joined the [[Know Nothing Party]] upon its establishment due to his anti-Catholic viewpoints, and attended its 1856 national convention.<ref name=arencyclopedia/> However, since the party refused to insert a pro-slavery plank into its platform, Pike joined fellow Southern delegates in walking out of the convention. He later affiliated with the Democratic Party.