Whig Party
One of the two major parties in the United States in the middle of the 19th century
Real World Example
During the Age of Jackson, the Whig Party emerged in the 1830s as a response to President Andrew Jackson's policies and the Democratic Party's influence. Whigs supported a strong federal government, modernization, and economic protectionism, opposing Jackson's populist approach and his veto of the national bank. The party played a crucial role in shaping American politics by promoting infrastructure development and opposing the spread of slavery. Today, the Whig Party's legacy can be seen in the continued debates over the balance of federal versus state power and government involvement in the economy. For example, when people discuss whether the government should fund public infrastructure projects like highways or schools, they are engaging in a debate that echoes the Whig Party's principles.