The American Whig Party (1834-1856) or is that 1999-2005 :)

[lovuian]

I'm hearing all about the WHIGS and thought we need to see that repeat in History and how this party was destroyed!!!

have a seat for this History Lesson

The name came into use in the 1680s in England when there was the threat of establishment of a line of Catholic Kings, starting with James II. The Protestant element, who held that Parliament could prevent such a succession, came to be called Whigs after a radical Presbyterian group in Scotland, the Whigamores

National Republicans were more generally known as Whigs, a name evocative of the political faction in opposition to the English Crown during the era of the Stuarts (17th Century);

the most notable being the Anti-Masonic party (Interesting)
the Whigs suffered from factionalism throughout their existence (Isn't that so true to this day fracture is a good word for it)

On the other hand, the Whigs had a superb network of newspapers that provided an internal information system, and in the 1840s (Judith Miller and the NYTimes Novak Chris Mathews and Tim Russert ya the WHIGS has good network)


The Whigs won votes in every socio-economic category, but appealed more to the professional classes: (Citicorp)Bankers, storekeepers(Walmart), factory owners(GE), commercially-oriented farmers(Phillip Morris) and large-scale planters largely supported the Whigs. In general, commercial and manufacturing towns and areas voted Whig, save for Democratic wards in Irish Catholic (Fitzgerald) and German immigrant communities; the Democrats often sharpened their appeals to the poor by ridiculing the Whigs' aristocratic pretensions(BUSH).


Protestant religious revivals also injected a moralistic element into the Whig ranks, which sent many targets of moralism (such as those affected by calls for prohibition)(0r Christian Right & PNAC) to seek refuge within the Democratic party.


So History repeats its self!!! We see the rise and fall of a party that never could!!!

It was a BAD CHOICE for a name!!!

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I think most right-wingers are closer to the 'Know-Nothings'.

The Know-Nothing movement was a nativist American political movement of the 1850s. It grew up as a popular reaction to the large numbers of immigrants—mostly Irish Roman Catholics—entering the United States starting in the late 1840s, and was characterized by calls for a number of measures to maintain the United States as a nation of Anglo-Saxon Protestants.

The official name of the political party was the American Party; "Know-Nothing" was a political epithet used by the party's opponents, although it was later adopted by its supporters.

[Chan790]

2. the most famous of whom was William Jennings Bryan

of the infamous "Cross of Gold" speech and "Scopes" Monkey Trial. A religious zealot, flamebaiter of the highest degree and a racist. Not surprisingly, many conservatives look up to him.

[lovuian]

4. Isn't it so significant that they picked WHIGS for their name

for their operation!!!

[NoPasaran]

6. No, Bryan was a populist, later Democrat

Three times Presidential candidate.

Also an anti-imperialist.

[Chan790]

9. yes,

all of those things, but also a founder of the Know Nothings. The Know Nothings were populists, much in the same way that Radical Republicans and Liberal Republicans were part of GOP at the same time period. Bryan was once noted to remark that he had to run against 2 men: Taft the Eastern Radical and Taft the Western Progressive.

He was an isolationist as well. It went with his anti-immigration views and opposition to war. Conservatives do love him though, especially the religious ones.

editied to add content for clarity.

[NoPasaran]

10. However much you dislike Bryan, he was not a founder of the No Nothings

He was born in 1860. What had been the American Party had disolved into the Republicans by then.

[lovuian]

3. I agree Sinking I love that Know-Nothing its so apropo!!!

Thanks!!!

[lovuian]

5. Judith Miller a charter member!!!

what do you have to do to join???

[Laelth]

7. Um ... well, no.

In English history, the Whig party was always a liberal party ... as opposed to the Tories who have been, historically, the more conservative (crown loyalist) party.

In the US, our two first parties were the Federalists and the Republicans. The Republicans were the party of Thomas Jefferson and were more liberal than their Federalist counterparts. The Republican party later became the Democratic-Republican party, and later just the "Democratic" party. It is with us today.

But the Democratic party got corrupt and conservative after many years of one party rule in the early 19th century. The federalists died out shortly after the election of 1800. The Whig party (the American version, more liberal that the conservative Democrats) formed around 1832, I think, and elected several presidents. Then the Whigs died out in the 1850s. They were replaced on the left by another liberal party, the Republican party, the party of Abraham Lincoln. This is the same "Republican" party we have today. In the late 19th century, the Republicans were liberal and the Democrats were conservative. Note that the conservative South always voted for Democrats up until the 1960s.

The left/right alignment of the Republican and Democratic parties changed in the early 20th century. After many years of Republican dominance after 1860 and in the early 20th century, they became corrupt, pro-business, and conservative. The Democratic party became the more liberal of the two.

Just a little history. But don't bash the Whigs. They are our ancestors!

-Laelth


Edit:Laelth--revised dates a little.

[lovuian]

8. Well I got my sources from Wikipedia and others I didn't make

these up!!! Mine are facts too!!! I was comparing the WHIGs to the WHIGS

I'll bash the White House Whigs thats for sure!!! Sorry difference in opinion thats History for you!!!

[lovuian]

11. Just remember Kerry was Catholic!!!

Bush was protestant!!!

[lovuian]

12. just a bump since the WHIGS are so popular

:kick: