Democrats incorporated westward expansion’s chances for independent landownership. Whigs were doubtful of quick westward development, and instead pushed for commercial expansion within the nation’s present borders. The Whigs’ economic image required an activist government, while Democrats endorsed partial government. Whigs reinforced corporate agreements, a national bank, and paper currency; Democrats contrasted all three. Whigs believed in growth and perfectibility, and they preferred social reforms, including public schools, prison and refuge reform, and soberness. Whigs favored to see society ruled from the top down; they supposed in free-labor ideology and believed that society’s wealthy had risen by value. Democrats suspected that the wealthy had profited from special favors. Whigs preferred new banks, more paper currency, and eagerly available corporate and bank charters. Democrats preferred eliminating paper money, and use coined money instead. (Norton, …show more content…
Describe the leaders and constituents that defined each party. Chapter 12
The Whigs were a political faction and then a political party in the parliaments of England, Scotland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom. The Democratic Party of the United States is the oldest voter-based political party in the world. Democrats first presidents were Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, James K. Polk. While the leaders of the Whigs consisted of Robert Walpole, Henry Clan and Daniel Webster. With the death of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, it left the Whigs weak and they fell apart in the 1850’s. (Norton, 2015)
Democratic voters consisted of farmers, urban workers, and immigrant workers, while the businessmen and plantation owners were against the democratic ways. The Whigs’ were for a moral reform consisting of evangelical Protestants along with free black supporters. Whigs’ gatherings resembled camp meetings, by interested to evangelicals, Whigs isolated other faiths. Whigs stood behind military General William Henry Harrison, while the Democrats reappointed President Van Buren. (Norton,