Henry Clay and the Whigs
The person who was probably the most upset by the election of Andrew Jackson in 1828 was Henry Clay, who would subsequently lead the main opposition to Jackson and his policies. The animosity between the two men stemmed from election of 1824, which had resulted in Jackson finishing first both in the popular vote and the electoral vote, but without a majority in either. The election was thrown to the House of Representatives where Clay, who finished third in the election behind Jackson and John Quincy Adams, convinced his supporters to back John Quincy Adams. When the House selected Adams as President over Jackson, Adams chose Clay as his Secretary of State, a position that was then seen as a major stepping stone to the Presidency. Jackson felt cheated and called Clay's appointment as Secretary of State "a corrupt bargain", resulting in his continuing contempt for Clay.
When Jackson was elected President in 1828, defeating Adams, those in Clay's camp included a group known as the National Republicans. This group referred to themselves as "Whigs" in honor of their ancestors during the Revolutionary War. They likened their ancestors' opposition to the tyranny of King George III to their own opposition of the "tyranny" of Andrew Jackson.
Clay strongly opposed Andrew Jackson's refusal to renew the charter of the Second Bank of the United States, and he lobbied for the passage of a resolution to censure Jackson for his actions. In 1832 Clay was unanimously nominated by the National Republicans to run for President against Jackson. The main issue was the policy of continuing the Second Bank of the United States. Clay lost by a wide margin to the highly popular Jackson (55% to 37%).
Eight years later in 1840, Clay was a candidate for the Whig nomination for President, but he was defeated in the party convention by supporters of war hero William Henry Harrison. Harrison was chosen because his war record was attractive and he was seen as more electable than Clay. But Clay would run for the Presidency a third time.
In 1844, Clay was nominated by the Whigs to run against James K. Polk, the Democratic candidate. Clay thought he was a shoe-in to defeat the relatively unknown Polk, but he lost due in part to national sentiment for Polk's expansionist policies. Clay opposed admitting Texas as a state because he believed it would reawaken the slavery issue and provoke Mexico to declare war. Polk took the opposite view, supported by most of the public, especially in the Southern United States. The election was close but New York's 36 electoral votes proved the difference, and went to Polk by a slim 5,000 vote margin. Liberty Party candidate James G. Birney won a little over 15,000 votes in New York and may have taken votes from Clay. Eventually, Clay's warnings came true. The US annexation of Texas led to the Mexican War, while the North and South came to increased tensions during Polk's Presidency over the extension of slavery into Texas and other newly acquired territory.
Clay would run for the Whig nomination for President in 1848, but the party selected General Zachary Taylor as their candidate. Clay died in 1852, having run for President three times, but never elected. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.
When Jackson was elected President in 1828, defeating Adams, those in Clay's camp included a group known as the National Republicans. This group referred to themselves as "Whigs" in honor of their ancestors during the Revolutionary War. They likened their ancestors' opposition to the tyranny of King George III to their own opposition of the "tyranny" of Andrew Jackson.
Clay strongly opposed Andrew Jackson's refusal to renew the charter of the Second Bank of the United States, and he lobbied for the passage of a resolution to censure Jackson for his actions. In 1832 Clay was unanimously nominated by the National Republicans to run for President against Jackson. The main issue was the policy of continuing the Second Bank of the United States. Clay lost by a wide margin to the highly popular Jackson (55% to 37%).
Eight years later in 1840, Clay was a candidate for the Whig nomination for President, but he was defeated in the party convention by supporters of war hero William Henry Harrison. Harrison was chosen because his war record was attractive and he was seen as more electable than Clay. But Clay would run for the Presidency a third time.
In 1844, Clay was nominated by the Whigs to run against James K. Polk, the Democratic candidate. Clay thought he was a shoe-in to defeat the relatively unknown Polk, but he lost due in part to national sentiment for Polk's expansionist policies. Clay opposed admitting Texas as a state because he believed it would reawaken the slavery issue and provoke Mexico to declare war. Polk took the opposite view, supported by most of the public, especially in the Southern United States. The election was close but New York's 36 electoral votes proved the difference, and went to Polk by a slim 5,000 vote margin. Liberty Party candidate James G. Birney won a little over 15,000 votes in New York and may have taken votes from Clay. Eventually, Clay's warnings came true. The US annexation of Texas led to the Mexican War, while the North and South came to increased tensions during Polk's Presidency over the extension of slavery into Texas and other newly acquired territory.
Clay would run for the Whig nomination for President in 1848, but the party selected General Zachary Taylor as their candidate. Clay died in 1852, having run for President three times, but never elected. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.