MOST Americans do not know we had a three party system in the 19th century. There were the Democrats, Republicans, and the Whig party. The Whig party was ultra conservative and at that time was stronger than the Republican party. The Whigs believed “all men are created equal”. The Whig party was formed in 1834 by opponents of President Andrew Jackson and his Jacksonian democrats. Jackson was one of the largest slave owners, he owned as many as 161 slaves. Henry Clay, former secretary of state, speaker of the house, and a powerful voice in the senate. Clay was known as the “Great Compromiser” and the leader of the Whig Party.
THE Whig party stood for equal rights for all and moral reform. They were against the harsh treatment of the Native Americans and people with disabilities. In 1830 Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act. Then he forced thousands of Choctaw Indians to journey on foot to Indian Territory. Became known as “The Trail of Tears“.
IN 1841 the first president elected from the Whig Party was William H. Harrison the 9th president. He only served one month in office before dying of pneumonia. John Tyler succeeded Harrison, also a Whig. Zachary Taylor the 12th president and Millard Fillmore 13th were the last of the Whig party presidents.
ABRAHAM Lincoln was a big supporter of the Whig Party. He admired Henry Clay and called him “my beau ideal of a statesman”. And said I have loved and revered Clay as a teacher and a leader. Even though the two men never met, they spoke highly of each other. Lincoln respected Clay for being a self-made man. And a strong promoter to the importance of education. As Lincoln had little education growing up. His parents were both illiterate. They did not believe in education. His father (Thomas Lincoln) thought education was nothing more than a waste of time. His mother died when he was 9, and his father remarried. When his father was dying Abe would not go see him. And refused to go to his funeral. Abe complained that they had offered their children absolutely nothing for an education. Lincoln pursued his education on his own.
IN 1838 Lincoln warned, America could never be overthrown by a foreign invader, but the only enemy to fear was the one with-in. And the government should be strictly controlled by the people to keep from degeneration into anarchy or demagogy.
IN 1852 Abe Lincoln’s mentor Henry Clay died. Lincoln delivered a eulogy for him, praising Clay for his unwavering devotion of love for America and her people. And the power of education for all Americans. Clay believed all men are created equal. And a free country provides people with an opportunity to pursue self-development and growth. Abe considered Henry Clay to be more than just his mentor, but also a father figure he could look up to. And learn from.
Lincoln was actually a Whig longer than he was a Republican. Lincoln was an advocate for women right to vote. He believed only those who paid taxes should be allowed to vote. He believed in freedom for all people. And the right for all people to get an education. Abe Lincoln was also a self-made man. When he was a young boy growing up he only was able to attend school for about 6 months. So Abe taught himself to read and write and do mathematics. Abe’s father was quite cruel and said Abe was just lazy and didn’t like to work. On the contrary Abe was a very hard worker and helped his father farm. Then when his chores were finished Abe would go to work learning in books people gave to him.
AND on November 19th, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on the battlefield in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. “Honoring the dead for they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that this Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”.
ABRAHAM Lincoln was one of the greatest Presidents in American history. He not only had support from the Whig party and Republicans, but also many Democrats joined the cause.