Whigs, democrats and know-nothings 7

Jackson’s political opponents formed a party called the Whigs, which meant opposition to Jackson’s style of leadership. They organized after the 1832 election but took over a decade to create a united platform. Key figures like Henry Clay and Daniel Webster helped the party grow, but in the 1836 election, they could not agree on a single candidate, and Martin Van Buren won. Van Buren struggled to gain support due to an economic depression and the strong influence of Jackson. The 1840 election saw the Whig candidate, William Henry Harrison, win against the Democrats, but Harrison died shortly after taking office, leading John Tyler to become president. Tyler had different views from Clay and Webster, causing a rift with the Whig Party.

During this time, there was also a significant rise in Irish and German Catholic immigrants, leading to tensions with native-born Protestants. The Order of the Star-Spangled Banner, known as the Know-Nothings, emerged in 1849, seeking to limit immigrant influence. They gained political power but eventually fell apart due to divisions over slavery.