Whig Party Historical Timeline

By vitessit

  • Creation

    Created to react against Andrew Jackson.

  • Election of 1836

    Offer up three candidates but beaten by Democratic Party

  • Election of 1840

    Victory getting a Virginia State office. Death of William Henry Harrison was bad enough, then John Tyler voted against his whole party.

  • 1844 Election

    Henry Clay lost to James K. Polk, and Whigs thought the results were unfair.

  • 1848 Election

    Finally got a presidential victory, but the candidate, Zachary Taylor died before he could get into office. VP Fillmore became president.

  • 1852 Election

    Compromise of 1850 happened b/c of Whigs, and a potential presidential candidate wanted to use it to gain advantage in the election. Whigs nominated another person who was swiftly taken down by the larger party.

  • 1856 Election

    Both Whig leaders died, and everything falls apart.

  • Dissolving

    Slavery issues are what split and dissolve the party in the end.