The Rise of the Whig Party
In the heat of the depression, Senators henry Clay and Daniel Webster argued that the government needed to step in and help the economy. however, Van Buren felt opposite. He believed that the economy would improve if it was left alone. He was quoted for saying "the less government interfers with private pursuits the better for the general prosperity." Although Van Buren had only taken offic eweeks before the Panic started, many Americans blamed it on him. The depression made it close to impossible for him to be able to win ree;ection in 1840. A new political party formed in the election. they were known as the Whig Party. Clay, Webster, and others that opposed Jackson formed this party. The Whig Party was named after a British party that opposed the concentration of power in the chief executive- they called "King Andrew" Jackson. The Whigs chose William henry Harrison of Ohio to run for president in the election of 1840. they also chose John Tyler of Virginia to run for vice-president.
Harrison was nominated largely for his military record and lack of trong political views. His military record includes leading the army to defeat Shawnees in 1822 at the Battle of Tippecanoe, plus he was a war hero during the War of 1812. The Whigs took full advantage of Harrisons military record, calling him "Old Tippecanoe." The slogan became "Tippecanoe and Tyler too."
This picture above is from http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/images/1157.jpg and shows William Henry Harrison. Underneath his name it says that he was the ninth president of the United States.
