Now that the presidential candidates are coming out of the woodwork, I started wondered, whatever happened to the Whig Party?

The Whig Party was formed in 1832 to oppose the policies of President Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party. The Whig Party believed that Congress should have more power than the executive branch and they wanted more modernization and economic development. They wanted more railroads, canals, and other improvements which proved useful in the development of the West.

The name came from the party of the English Whigs who favored Parliament keeping the king in check. The name was also used by the American Patriots during the Revolutionary War. These were colonists who favored an independent nation.

The Whig Party was only in existence for 24 years (1832 to 1856) but had some famous members including Daniel Webster, William Henry Harrison, Henry Clay, Zachary Taylor and Abraham Lincoln. Four Whig Presidents were elected – Harrison, Taylor, John Tyler and Millard Fillmore. Both Harrison and Taylor died in office and Tyler was expelled from the Party.

The Whig Party was eventually destroyed by defection to the Republican Party who was the strong anti-slavery party in the 1850s.

In January 2007, the State of Florida recognized the Florida Whig Party. The Whig party is back after a 150 year hiatus!