The Whig Party is caught at the Junction point of History. Many Whigs feel cheated at their defeat in the 1848 Election, and with Zachary Taylor left two feet behind them, it’s clear that the Whigs need to find the candidate to hopefully save the Party. As Henry Clay is on death’s door, the Party he birthed convenes to decide the nominee.
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Winfield Scott, General: Winfield Scott has ran three times before, in 1840, 1844, and 1848, having been beaten each time. The Elder War Hero nicknamed Old Fuss and Feathers perhaps could be the man to finally deliver the Whigs a second electoral victory. Scott holds a distinction of an appeal to the ‘Lost Whigs’ that fled to the Free Soil Party and doomed the candidacy of Taylor, and perhaps he could set that right with William Seward’s remaining Whigs support in his sails. Hopefully, he could achieve some success without tearing the Party apart.
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Daniel Webster, Senator: Webster is perhaps the man most unlikely to tie the Party together once again. A Proponent of the Cass Compromise, while it has drawn some admiration for his willingness to compromise with the South, that has drawn no true love from either side of the Party. But, perhaps the once upon a time Secretary of State could pick up the Torch from Clay and lead the Party to victory without leaving it in tatters.
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John J. Crittenden, Former Governor: A Compromiser in the fashion of his longtime friend (Though shaken in recent years) Clay, Crittenden of Kentucky would be a firmly reluctant torchbearer if nominated, but perhaps he is the best choice. Middle of the Line, conciliatory, he might be a desperate grasp for hope, but maybe desperation is worth better than a party torn to shreds.
Summary of Daniel Webster's Second Term
In Webster's two terms in office, he ended the Civil War, and took the country through the first stage of Reconstruction. But now, the Whig Party must once again find a presidential candidate. Many divisions have presented themselves such as slavery, the controversial and failed Treaty of Uppsala (which would've sold Santo Domingo to the Swedish), and the annexation of Texas. While Henry Clay is seen as the most likely to win the nomination, in this convention, it could really go to anyone.
Henry Clay: Representative from Kentucky Henry Clay started off his career in politics as a Burrite, but eventually he left the party and began advocating for the American System, which entails high tariffs, internal improvements, and a National Bank. Clay has served as Speaker of the House and is now an extremely influential Whig leader, now in the Senate. Before the start of the Civil War, Clay was focused on doing whatever he could to maintain the Union, first opposing the deal between Jackson, Webster, and Adams (on the Spanish-American War), because he thought that it wouldn't appease the south, and then coming up with Clay's Ordinance, a more moderate solution to the slavery issue meant to replace Jefferson's Ordinance.
During the war, Henry Clay helped pass Frelinghuysen's Tariff and was reluctant to ally with the British Empire. He was also a critical supporter of the Emancipation Act of 1835, being a strong advocate for gradual emancipation. He supports the Frelinghuysen Tariff. Clay opposed the Treaty of Uppsala because he is a member of the American Colonization Society, an organization with the goal of sending free black people to Africa, but he considered Santo Domingo a more convenient place to send freed slaves than Africa. He strongly supported rebuilding relations with France and opposed the Indian Removal Act. Clay supports the annexation of Texas, but is worried that any attempt to annex the republic will be seen as a sign of aggression by Mexico.
Edward Everett: The former president's preferred successor, Edward Everett served as Secretary of State under Daniel Webster. When the Ortensia Crisis started under Webster, Everett urged Presid
... keep reading on reddit ➡Summary of Daniel Webster's First Term
In the chaotic elections of 1828, the old party system died, and a new one took its place. The Bucktails, formerly the party of Aaron Burr, died and the Federalists, the party of the second and third presidents of the United States, collapsed, leading to the formation of the Whig Party. The Whig Party was able to cater to a much broader range of people compared to the Federalists, including the now non-existent Anti-Masonic Party. Their first big victory came in 1832, when Whig candidate Daniel Webster won the presidency. Webster had to deal with a Civil War, which he managed to win.
Webster was renominated unanimously in the Whig Convention of 1836, but, Vice President John J. Crittenden has refused to be renominated. While he hasn't stated a reason for this decision, many think that he wants to be appointed to the Supreme Court during Webster's second term. This leaves the position of Vice President up for grabs for whoever can get the most support.
William Hendricks: Former Governor of the Indiana Territory and current Senator from Indiana William Hendricks originally aligned himself with the eastern half of the territory seeking to outlaw slavery. This earned him the ire of first Governor of the Indiana Territory and former Secretary of War William Henry Harrison, who was a supporter of the pro-slavery western half. Through the efforts of Hendricks, alongside Jonathan Jennings and Dennis Pennington , the eastern half prevailed, and slavery was outlawed. As the last territorial governor, Hendricks focused on repairing the territory's economy, as well as internal improvements. As Senator, Hendricks has supported most of Webster's policies, including the Emancipation Act of 1835, the suspension of Habeas Corpus, and Webster's raising of tariffs.
Senator from Indiana William Hendricks
Robert P. Letcher: Former Vice President John J. Crittenden was mostly chosen by Webster's rival for control over the party, Henry Clay. Clay has decided to try to try to get another one of his close allies to that same position. This time, it is Robert P. Letcher. Letcher has been serving as Representative from Kentucky since 1823, a position in which he supported the Federalist and th
... keep reading on reddit ➡Grown out of the wartime opposition party to President Sergeant, the Whig party attracted some of the most prominent National Unionists and several Democratic-Republicans to its ranks. With varying positions on issues, nationally well-known candidates all vie with each other for the nomination.
Henry Clay came out of retirement during the southern crisis to defuse the situation and save the union. Early on in the crisis, he was elected unanimously by the Kentucky legislature to fill Richard Mentor Johnson's seat in the Senate when he resigned to obtain a commission in the army. Clay is widely recognized as the primary author of the compromise and driving force behind the negotiations, boosting his popularity. His positions are in favor of a treasury system that would hold government funds and give loans to, if necessary, companies and local governments for investment in infrastructure. He is not opposed to expansion, but would not actively pursue it.
John Tyler was propelled to nationwide fame when he became the first senator to speak out against Sergeant's unwillingness to accede to southern positions during the compromise attempts in 1833. He became a staunch opponent of the president thereafter, pushing vocally for his removal. Following Sergeant's impeachment, the stubborn Tyler got along rather well with Barbour, although friction began to become evident between he and his fellow Whig leader Henry Clay. Tyler is an active supporter of purchasing territories from an increasingly embattled Mexico, and would only support any plan for a Treasury if it were clear that it would not violate the constitution.
Daniel Webster is the current Secretary of State, having been appointed to that capacity in 1829. He has much to recommend him for the position of president. As Secretary of State, Webster negotiated the admittance of Maine as a state, the settling of boundary disputes with British Canada, an end to the Mexican Civil War without force, used careful diplomatic footwork during the southern crisis to keep Europe
... keep reading on reddit ➡
(Before I start I apologize for the long wait, I had some IRL stuff to do). Now, back to our regularly scheduled production.)
William Seward - The Leader of many Northern Whigs, Seward is making another bid for the Presidency - most likely his last and best chance to win. He has been a leading voice for Free Soilers and Anti-Slavery men in the North. He also fervently opposes the Attempted Expansion of President Cass south, attacking it as a "move to expand the yoke of slavery and expand the slave power". He also supports traditional Whig Policies like Internal Improvements and Tariffs along with the Land Grants + Homestead Acts passed by Cass. Many fear that Seward's victory will lead to Civil War, but he has dismissed this notion saying, "I am the candidate not of the North or of John Brown (the little known abolitionist man who attempted to attack Federal Property in Oklahoma), I am the candidate for the United States and all her people". However, this along with his alliance with Thurlow Weed could hurt his chances.
Abraham Lincoln - Abraham Lincoln enters the Whig Convention as a moderate candidate, talking about opposing expansionism into Cuba and having any slavery in any territory, but clearly standing against the Abolition of Slavery in the South. He is also an ardent advocate of the American System and agrees with people like Seward and most Northern Whigs on Domestic Issues. He also made a memorable denouncination of Cass's Cuba and Mexico Attempts, most famously with the words "A House Divided cannot Expand". He is distrusted by many Northern Whigs for his more moderate tone, but may be the best candidate for the General.
Salmon P. Chase - Salmon Chase is the current Governor of Ohio. He was at once a Democrat, then a Whig, then American Party, and is now a Whig. He is an ardent advocate for the Free Soil Movement which seeks to ban slavery in all federal territory. He has also had many relationships with Abolitionists and has rumored sympathies to the Abolition Movement which he has tried to muddle away, though has not officially denied. This has made him enemy #1 in the South, who has threatened to secede if he were nomination and if that happened a lot of border states could be in doubt as well. Chase himself hasn't commented upon these rumours. He has also drawn the ire of many Whigs for being ambivalent about their Economic Program, even opposing high tariffs and has upset immigrants for being a member of the American Party
... keep reading on reddit ➡Old Fuss and Feathers wants to adhere to the principles of the Whigs - and only run for one term. However, many in his party such as Attorney General Lincoln beg him to run - and he reaches an understanding. If the Whig Party nominates him for President, then he shall accept the nomination. However, he will not actively seek the nomination of the Whig Party and will only accept the nomination. This has allowed other contenders to throw their hat into the ring, with the understanding that if Scott has a clear advantage on Ballot 1, then they shall drop out
John McLean - Supreme Court Justice McLean is running for the Whig nomination, yet again. He has a record as an economic nationalist, a Western-populist once being a Jacksonian, and being against the expansion of slavery. His position on the Compromise of 1855 is unclear, but he has shown great reluctance towards it.
William Seward - Vice President William Seward is the front-runner for the nomination. He hopes to sweep the North with his Pro-Tariff, Pro-American System views, and most importantly his support of the Free Soil movement which hopes to end all extensions of slavery in any new lands. He even opposed the Compromise of 1855, though he and the President have remained amicable enough.
Edward Everett - Secretary of Treasury Everett is Seward's main competition in the Northeast and a key ally of President Scott. He supported both Scott's veto of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Compromise of 1855 fully - which has drawn the ire of Free-Soilers. He is also far more open to negotiations with the South, both for National Union and Economic (Southern Cotton was very important to the East) reasons.
*Winfield Scott - President Scott doesn't wish to be President for another 4 years, wishing to go back into military service or at worst retire from the hound of Washington. However, after being pressed by his allies in the Cabinet and in New York, who fear Everett won't be able to stop Seward, Scott has telegraphed the Convention that he will not seek the nomination, but as a public service would accept the nomination. This has lead to a last-minute surge for Scott which could hurt mainly McLean and Everett (who is furious at Scott for not telling him about this)
* - Not an Active Candidate
1st Ballot - Abraham Lincoln stormed off to a surprisingly early and easy 1st Ballot Victory getting 60% of delegates and an easy nomination.
VP Nomination - Lincoln's VP choice on the other hand was a bit more debated. The Obvious Choices were Salmon Chase and Nathaniel Banks, but Seward and Thurlow Weed threatened to cut Lincoln off in New York. There was talk about John McLean, but that was opposed by Chase. Then, Cassius Clay came up, but his eccentric attitude, womanizing habits, and overall radicalism made him opposed by much of the Eastern Moderates. To top it off, Benjamin Wade of Ohio threatened to split off and run apart of the Liberty Party if someone too moderate was nominated. On the 1st Ballot Banks took the lead with McLean second and a whole cast of characters afterward mentioned. Then, the Vermont Delegation promoted a compromise - their favorite son former Cabinet member under Scott and Senator Jacob Collamer. He was a strong Whig on domestic policy like Tariffs and the fading Bank issue and a prominent anti-slavery expansion voice. However, he is well-regarded even among enemies and an advocate against the "Spoil System". After some debating, the men of the convention all suggested their agreement with the choice of Collamer and thus he won on the 9th Ballot.
1st Ballot - Seward gets off to a big lead with 46% of the vote, while the rest of the votes are split to the other candidates. McLean is 2nd while Everett and Scott are at the bottom close. Considering, he is the President, he telegraphs the Convention, he isn't interested in the nomination. He immediately tells his supporters led by Lincoln to give his votes to Everett.
2nd Ballot - Edward Everett is now at 29% with McLean at 25% while Seward is at 46%. This continues for some time.
8th Ballot - Everett and Justice McLean's supporters make a deal - McLean's supporters would shift to Everett if it seemed Seward would gain a majority and vice versa. Also, one would be the other's VP if the other won.
14th Ballot - Many Northeastern Delegates do not want a horribly long convention, so thus they are planning to switch to Everett. Thus, the plan went into effect.
19th Ballot - Everett is able to unite Anti-Seward forces in the Lower Midwest, Cotton Whigs, and Mid-Atlantic and get a majority.
Everett makes McLean VP as agreed upon beforehand.
Winfield Scott - Nicknamed "Old Fuss and Feathers", Winfield Scott is running for President yet again. He is this time the clear favorite to win and as such has been relatively cautious. He is seen to be another Harrison on domestic issues who will follow what the Whig Congress wants. However, on slavery, he is a bit more anti-slavery than Harrison, but he hasn't been that open on the issues. He is a prominent candidate of the East and Northwest but will need to beat Southern opposition to win.
John M. Clayton - Senator John M. Clayton hails from the border state of Delaware and is serving as Secretary of War. Like Webster, Clayton is a very popular orator. He is a moderate to even conservative within the Whig Party, advocating for traditional domestic policies of the Whigs, but a bit closer to the Democrats on expansion and foreign policy. Though he is anti-slavery, his status as a moderate within the Whig Party has made him a favorite within the South. However, he will need to expand his base up the Mason-Dixon Line in order to win.
William Seward - William Seward is the firebrand Senator from the state of New York. He is a firm opponent of slavery, even voting against the Compromise of 1851, and is a favorite of abolitionists and free-soilers. However, many Southerners are saying that if Seward were to become President, they would have no recourse except to dissolve the Union. Even many border staters are suspicious of Seward due to his firm anti-slavery record. He will need to fully unite the North behind him in order to win a victory.
John McLean - John McLean is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court from the state of Ohio. Due to him being a Justice, he is not running an active campaign, but many hope he will be a compromise candidate. He is an economic and overall nationalist seeing loyalty to Union far above loyalty to the state and is generally in line with Whig Economic principles and has supported the constitutionality of the Whig Programs. He has also amassed an anti-slavery record in his home state's Supreme Court and on the bench. However, he was at once a Jacksonian and a supporter of President Jackson, even being appointed by him, which could cause some issues among the Whig faithful, but this could help him in the South.
1832: Henry Clay
1836: Technically not a convention, but Daniel Webster
1840: Henry Clay
1844: Henry Clay
1848: Henry Clay
1852: Daniel Webster
1856: Charles Sumner
1860: Benjamin Wade
1864: Abraham Lincoln
1868: Ulysses S Grant
1872: Ulysses S Grant
1876: Benjamin H. Bristow
1880: Ulysses S Grant
1884: Chester A. Arthur
1888: John Sherman
1892: Thomas Brackett Reed
1896: Thomas Brackett Reed
1900: William McKinley
1904: Theodore Roosevelt
1908: Robert M. La Follette
1912: Robert M. La Follette
1916: Robert M. La Follette
1920: Robert M. La Follette
1924: Robert M. La Follette
1928: Herbert Hoover
1932: Herbert Hoover
1936: William Borah
1940: Wendell Willkie
1944: Earl Warren
1948: Earl Warren
1952: Earl Warren
1956: Dwight D. Eisenhower
1960: Nelson Rockefeller
1964: Nelson Rockefeller
1968: Nelson Rockefeller
1972: Richard M. Nixon
1976: Gerald R. Ford
1980: John B. Anderson
1984: Harold Stassen
1988: George H. W. Bush
1992: George H. W. Bush
1996: Bob Dole
2000: John McCain
2004: Bill Wyatt
2008: Mitt Romney
2012: Mitt Romney
2016: John Kasich
2020: Bill Weld
After fierce balloting at the 1848 Whig Convention, the opening results have shocked the most. Not the front-runner - Secretary of State Webster has been the favorite for a long time and is nearing the nomination. However, in what appears to be a Stop Webster Movement, Crittenden's Southern Support has gone to Scott en masse, with Kentucky (Crittenden's home) and the Deep South staying loyal to Crittenden.
1st Ballot -
Webster is at 49% of the delegates
After the 1st Ballot, members of the Delaware delegation (under unknown assurances from Webster that John Clayton would be Secretary of State) would flip to Clay.
2nd Ballot -
Webster is at 49.8% of the delegates.
After the 2nd Ballot, Scott and Crittenden supporters would message the convention withdrawl letters. Webster would win with UC on the 3rd Ballot (except for some angry SC men, still bitter about the Nullification Crisis).
For Vice President, the Convention would need to choose a Southerner. In there the choice was obvious, John Crittenden the former AG. But....Crittenden declined, so the Convention settled for John Bell of TN and the Secretary of War who narrowly beat Senator William A. Graham of NC.
Finally, it seemed as if the Whig Party would be on equal footing with the Democrats. Despite, the accident of the Tyler Presidency, their leader Henry Clay's Presidency had reinvigorated the party. Now, entering the Whig Convention, it seemed as if the party was higher than ever. It had 3 well-known and generally well-liked candidates for the Presidency.
Candidates -
Daniel Webster - The most famous orator throughout the nation, Daniel Webster has sported many political hats in his career. Having served as Senator from Massachusetts and Secretary of State under President Clay, Webster enters the convention as a favorite. He has a long-standing record as an opponent of slavery with some ties to people like Garrison and Emerson. He is also a big supporter of the national bank and broadly supports tariffs - though, he is more than willing to compromise on them and is well known for his 2nd Reply to Hayne Speech where he denounced nullification. More recently, Webster has worked with Clay in avoiding war with Mexico while still adding lands in Texas and Alta California, while supporting the Oregon Treaty. However, he is widely opposed in the South for his previous record and his work in adding mainly "Northern" land as opposed to Southern expansion.
John Crittenden - Henry Clay's most well-known protege and a candidate of Southern Whigs, Crittenden has served as Senator from Kentucky then AG for Clay. He supports standard Whig issues such as tariffs, the bank, and unionism. However, he is more moderate than Webster on the issue of slavery and is seen as more conciliatory than the man from Massachusetts. However, a lot of his potential compromise support is expected to get sucked up by Winfield Scott in the West. Furthermore, Crittenden is more than willing to drop out if need be.
Winfield Scott - The Commanding General of the Army, and nicknamed "Old Fuss and Feathers", Winfield Scott once again was a candidate for nomination. He is a favorite for his great military record and his overall national popularity. However, many Whigs are worried about his lack of political experience and Henry Clay's intense opposition to him. His political views are unclear, but he is known to oppose a "strong" executive and usual Whig views.
Go Vote
1st Ballot - The shock of the convention came when yet again the man who was expected to win the South failed to do so. John Clayton fell far behind and soon after threw his delegates to Scott. Elsewhere, Seward was achieving his sweep of the North, but he wasn't getting much farther. Nonetheless, he lead in delegates.
3rd Ballot - Scott surpassed McLean for 2nd place against Seward after receiving all of Clayton's Southern Delegates. This also nearly evened him with Seward.
6th Ballot - The Situation has stayed generally the same, with Seward retaining a narrow lead over Scott.
8th Ballot - Scott had a narrow lead over Seward with McLean behind.
10th Ballot - Scott continues his narrow lead but with no majority clear at all.
Thus, Thurlow Weed decided it was time for his magic. He had known both Scott and Seward, but more importantly, he wanted to beat McLean since he saw him as too much of a maverick who wouldn't go in league with the Whig Congress. So he had them strike a deal - Scott would be President with Seward as VP - and Scott would take on the 1 term pledge. Seward who had no chance to win outright and Scott who knew that this was his last chance both accepted (Seward also knew that Scott was the underdog and thus hoped to be the clear nominee in 56 assuming Scott lost)
11th Ballot - William Seward withdraws and Winfield Scott wins a surprisingly narrow majority over John McLean.
Seward then becomes VP.
1832 - Henry Clay
1836 - William Henry Harrison
1840 - Winfield Scott
1844 - Henry Clay
1848 - Henry Clay
1852 - Winfield Scott
---------------------------------
1856 - John McLean
1860 - Abraham Lincoln
1864 - Abraham Lincoln
1868 - US Grant
1872 - US Grant
1876 - Benjamin Bristow
1880 - Elihu B. Washbourne
1884 - John Sherman
1888 - John Sherman
1892 - James G. Blaine
1896 - Thomas B. Reed
1900 - Abstain
1904 - Teddy Roosevelt
1908 - Charles E. Hughes
1912 - Teddy Roosevelt
1916 - Charles E. Hughes
1920 - Herbert Hoover
1924 - Calvin Coolidge
1928 - Charles Dawes
1932 - Abstain
1936 - William Borah
1940 - Wendell Wilkie
1944 - Harold Stassen
1948 - Harold Stassen
1952 - Dwight Eisenhower
1956 - Dwight Eisenhower
1960 - Richard Nixon
1964 - William Scranton
1968 - George Romney
1972 - Richard Nixon
1976 - Gerald Ford
1980 - George HW Bush
1984 - Ronald Reagan
1988 - George HW Bush
1992 - George HW Bush
1996 - Richard Lugar
2000 - John McCain
2004 - Abstain
2008 - Rudy Giuliani
2012 - Jon Huntsman
2016 - Chris Christie
2020 - Bill Weld
This poll has now been invalidated because I made a mistake. Here's the link to the new poll: 1856 Whig Convention .
Go here for the links and results of my other polls
After becoming president, Douglas' first challenge was passing Henry Clay's Compromise of 1850. He manages to do that successfully in the first year in office by working across the isle with the National Republicans and emphasizing how the alternative is Civil War. The compromise includes:
- Bringing in California as a free state
- Letting New Mexico and Utah decide whether to be free or not by themselves
- Banning the Slave Trade in DC
- Having Texas let go of its claim in New Mexico, in exchange for paying off its debts
- Making it so that people have to return escaped slaves to their owners. This part of the Compromise is called the Fugitive Slave Act
While the compromise has deescalated tensions somewhat, they were still rather high.
Next, Douglas wanted to organize a territorial government in the territories of the Louisiana Purchase that were still unorganized, however, he was thwarted by several southern politicians who knew that in those territories, slavery would be banned, as per the Missouri Compromise. To get around them, Douglas tried to get a bill passed through Congress that would repeal the Missouri Compromise, and create two new territories there, named Kansas and Nebraska, who would decide whether to accept slavery on their own, on the principle of Popular Sovereignty, once they became states. That bill ended up passing in 1854, named the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
While Douglas hoped that it would ease tensions, the bill ended up amplifying them, as many northerners would join the anti-slavery Whig party. It also caused much chaos in Kansas. Before the bill, Kansas had two capitals: Lawrence and Lecompton. Lecompton had a pro-slavery constitution, while Lawrence's constitution was against slavery. The act caused the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions to start threatening and attacking each other politically and eventually, physically as well. Some Missourians have also joined the fighting as well, on the pro-slavery side. On May 21, 1856, the pro-slavery faction attacked and sacked the capital city of Lawrence.
Douglas responded to the conflict by saying th
... keep reading on reddit ➡Immediately after taking office, Taylor was faced with many concerns about the territory acquired in the Mexican-American War. While a slaveowner himself, he opposed the extension of slavery into new territories, because he thought that it was economically unfeasible. His strategy to relieve tensions was to try to make California a state as quickly as possible to get the question of slavery there out of Congress' hands, with it probably choosing to ban slavery. Taylor threatened to hang anyone who secedes.
Another issue was the border dispute between the state of Texas and the territory of New Mexico. Some land was under the Federal jurisdiction of New Mexico, which Texas claimed was rightfully theirs. Taylor sided with New Mexico, threatening to personally go down to Texas with an army behind him.
Taylor's foreign policy was very good. He freed American prisoners held in Spain, prevented war with Cuba, and improved relations with Britain, by promising not to build a canal in Nicaragua.
However, on July 9, 1850, Zachary Taylor died from an unknown digestive ailment, leaving the presidency to Abbott Lawrence.
In his inaugural address, Abbott Lawrence announced that the secession problem is about slavery and the strengthening of slavery must be stopped at any costs. He also appointed very Free Soil adjacent members to his new cabinet, such as William H. Seward and Thomas Corwin.
This sent the southern states into a frenzy. They accused Lawrence of being an abolitionist, with some people claiming that he expressed abolitionist sentiment in private. Even more states and people are starting to want secession.
To resolve this crisis, former president Henry Clay proposed the Compromise of 1850, which would:
- Bring in California as a free state
- Let New Mexico and Utah decide whether to be free or not by themselves
- Ban the Slave Trade in DC
- Have Texas let go of its claim in New Mexico, in exchange for paying off its debts
- Make it so that people have to return escaped slaves to their owners. This part of the Compromise is called the Fugitive Slave Act
Moderate politicians from both sides have rallied to the Compromise. After the death of Henry Clay in 1852, National Republican Daniel Webster and Democrat Stephen Douglas have been its most ardent supporters. However, this bill was opposed by president Lawrence, who claimed that it benefits slaveowners too much and said that he would veto it, if given the chance. The bill is still being debated on. P
... keep reading on reddit ➡
The Whigs entered the convention a party seemingly in tension, with many uncertain how the convention would truly go, and curious to see if Scott would finally be the nominee with all his old competition gone.
Winfield Scott, General: Winfield Scott has ran three times before, in 1840, 1844, and 1848, having been beaten each time. The Elder War Hero nicknamed Old Fuss and Feathers perhaps could be the man to finally deliver the Whigs a second electoral victory. Scott holds a distinction of an appeal to the ‘Lost Whigs’ that fled to the Free Soil Party and doomed the candidacy of Taylor, and perhaps he could set that right with William Seward’s remaining Whigs support in his sails. Hopefully, he could achieve some success without tearing the Party apart.
Daniel Webster, Senator: Webster is perhaps the man most unlikely to tie the Party together once again. A Proponent of the Cass Compromise, while it has drawn some admiration for his willingness to compromise with the South, that has drawn no true love from either side of the Party. But, perhaps the once upon a time Secretary of State could pick up the Torch from Clay and lead the Party to victory without leaving it in tatters.
John J. Crittenden, Former Governor: A Compromiser in the fashion of his longtime friend (Though shaken in recent years) Clay, Crittenden of Kentucky would be a firmly reluctant torchbearer if nominated, but perhaps he is the best choice. Middle of the Line, conciliatory, he might be a desperate grasp for hope, but maybe desperation is worth better than a party torn to shreds.
The First Ballot:
https://preview.redd.it/d8t8c8adloa71.png?width=1421&format=png&auto=webp&s=7eadb611099b49cb0510f69b800eed0bf40713cb
To some's surprise, Winfield Scott gained a firm majority on the very first ballot, and won the nomination on the backs of the North. Eyes turned to the race for Running Mate, with many raising the possibility of Crittenden as a contender. Former Representative Henry W. Hilliard was eventually put forth unanimously as the nominee an and upon some consideration, he accepted.
Summary of Andrew Jackson's Second Term
A lot has happened in Andrew Jackson's second term. The Spanish-American War came to an end, Jackson enacted a compromise on the National Bank, which weakened it, but didn't get rid of it entirely, and a Civil War has started. The Whig Party, formed from the ashes of the Federalist Party, convenes for the first time to select a presidential candidate. All candidates here are supportive of continuing the Civil War until the Confederacy is forced to surrender.
Daniel Webster: Senator from Massachusetts soared to become perhaps the most well know figure in the north (aside from the president himself) after his debates with future Confederate President John C. Calhoun over the legality of seceding from the Union. There, he described the United States government as "made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people" and it is also known for the line "liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable." In fact, Webster's First Reply to Calhoun has so far been reprinted a thousand times, and because of that speech, Webster is now considered by many to be the greatest orator in American history.
Other than that, Webster is known for being a very skilled lawyer, having argued cases before the Supreme Court many times. He is an opponent of slavery who does not own any slaves personally, though he has shown himself to be willing to compromise on the issue somewhat to preserve the Union, such as when he made a deal with Andrew Jackson in order to stop the spread of slavery west but let it continue spreading east. Webster is a strong supporter of high tariffs, internal improvements, and he was known to have been unsatisfied by Jackson's compromise on the National Bank. Webster has received heavy criticism from other Whig leaders for having extensive connections with the Massachusetts political and business elite. He is opposed to Indian Removal and neutral towards Masonry.
Senator from Massachusetts Daniel Webster
Henry Clay: Representative from Kentucky Henry Clay started off his career in politics as a Burrite, but eventually he left the party and began advocating for the American System, which entails high tariffs, internal improvements, and a Nati
... keep reading on reddit ➡Summary of Andrew Jackson's Second Term
A lot has happened in Andrew Jackson's second term. The Spanish-American War came to an end, Jackson enacted a compromise on the National Bank, which weakened it, but didn't get rid of it entirely, and a Civil War has started. The Whig Party, formed from the ashes of the Federalist Party, convenes for the first time to select a presidential candidate. All candidates here are supportive of continuing the Civil War until the Confederacy is forced to surrender.
Daniel Webster: Senator from Massachusetts soared to become perhaps the most well know figure in the north (aside from the president himself) after his debates with future Confederate President John C. Calhoun over the legality of seceding from the Union. There, he described the United States government as "made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people" and it is also known for the line "liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable." In fact, Webster's First Reply to Calhoun has so far been reprinted a thousand times, and because of that speech, Webster is now considered by many to be the greatest orator in American history.
Other than that, Webster is known for being a very skilled lawyer, having argued cases before the Supreme Court many times. He is an opponent of slavery who does not own any slaves personally, though he has shown himself to be willing to compromise on the issue somewhat to preserve the Union, such as when he made a deal with Andrew Jackson in order to stop the spread of slavery west but let it continue spreading east. Webster is a strong supporter of high tariffs, internal improvements, and he was known to have been unsatisfied by Jackson's compromise on the National Bank. Webster has received heavy criticism from other Whig leaders for having extensive connections with the Massachusetts political and business elite. He is opposed to Indian Removal and neutral towards Masonry.
Henry Clay: Representative from Kentucky Henry Clay started off his career in politics as a Burrite, but eventually he left the party and began advocating for the American System, which entails high tariffs, internal improvements, and a National Bank. Clay has served as Speaker of the House and i
... keep reading on reddit ➡Results from the Whig Convention in my alt-history
https://www.reddit.com/r/Presidentialpoll/comments/qncmay/1860_whig_convention_results/
Vote in an Alternate Whig Convention set in my "If Clay Won Series"
https://www.reddit.com/r/Presidentialpoll/comments/qm763a/1860_whig_convention/
I didn't include all of the conventions where there was only one option (or effectively, only one option). I also don't count very, very minor candidates who got like 1 vote in the convention.
Federalists:
1804: Rufus King
1808: Rufus King
1812: DeWitt Clinton
1816: Rufus King
Whigs:
1836: Willie P. Mangum (I know this is technically not a convention, but I included it anyway)
1840: Henry Clay
1848: Winfield Scott
1852: Winfield Scott
Republicans:
1856: John McLean
1860: Salmon P. Chase
1868: Ulysses S. Grant
1876: Benjamin Bristow
1880: John Sherman, then James A. Garfield as the compromise candidate
1884: Chester A. Arthur
1888: John Sherman
1896: Thomas B. Reed
1908: William H. Taft
1912: Theodore Roosevelt
1916: Charles Evans Hughes
1920: Frank O. Lowden
1928: Frank O. Lowden
1936: Alf Landon
1940: Wendell Willkie
1944: Thomas E. Dewey
1948: Thomas E. Dewey or Arthur Vandenberg
1952: Dwight D. Eisenhower
1960: Richard M. Nixon
1964: Nelson Rockefeller
1968: Nelson Rockefeller
1976: Gerald Ford
1980: George H. W. Bush
1988: George H. W. Bush
1992: George H. W. Bush
1996: Bob Dole
2000: John McCain
2008: Mitt Romney
2012: Mitt Romney
2016: John Kasich
This is the second time posting this. I reposted it because I made a mistake the first time.
Go here for the links and results of my other polls
After becoming president, Douglas' first challenge was passing Henry Clay's Compromise of 1850. He manages to do that successfully in the first year in office by working across the isle with the National Republicans and emphasizing how the alternative is Civil War. The compromise includes:
- Bringing in California as a free state
- Letting New Mexico and Utah decide whether to be free or not by themselves
- Banning the Slave Trade in DC
- Having Texas let go of its claim in New Mexico, in exchange for paying off its debts
- Making it so that people have to return escaped slaves to their owners. This part of the Compromise is called the Fugitive Slave Act
While the compromise has deescalated tensions somewhat, they were still rather high.
Next, Douglas wanted to organize a territorial government in the territories of the Louisiana Purchase that were still unorganized, however, he was thwarted by several southern politicians who knew that in those territories, slavery would be banned, as per the Missouri Compromise. To get around them, Douglas tried to get a bill passed through Congress that would repeal the Missouri Compromise, and create two new territories there, named Kansas and Nebraska, who would decide whether to accept slavery on their own, on the principle of Popular Sovereignty, once they became states. That bill ended up passing in 1854, named the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
While Douglas hoped that it would ease tensions, the bill ended up amplifying them, as many northerners would join the anti-slavery Whig party. It also caused much chaos in Kansas. Before the bill, Kansas had two capitals: Lawrence and Lecompton. Lecompton had a pro-slavery constitution, while Lawrence's constitution was against slavery. The act caused the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions to start threatening and attacking each other politically and eventually, physically as well. Some Missourians have also joined the fighting as well, on the pro-slavery side. On May 21, 1856, the pro-slavery faction attacked and sacked the capital city of Lawrence.
Douglas responded to the conflict by saying that the pro-slavery faction is the legitimate government of Kansas, and that the anti-slavery faction is the primary cause of violence. T
... keep reading on reddit ➡
