Final answer:
The Whig Party was established in 1834 to oppose Andrew Jackson's Democratic Party, promoting a strong federal government and economic nationalism. It attracted a diverse coalition, but internal divisions over slavery led to its demise in the 1850s.
Step-by-step explanation:
Emergence of the Whig Party
The Whig Party was created in 1834 to oppose the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic Party. Rooted in their differing interpretations of the 'necessary and proper' clause of the Constitution, the Whigs were in favor of a larger role for the federal government, specifically in economic and judicial nationalism. This was in contrast to the Democrats, who championed individual freedom with minimal government intervention and deferred most issues to the states.
Coalition of the Whig Party
The Whigs drew support from a broad coalition including wealthy merchants, middle and upper-class farmers, Upland South planters, and settlers in the Great Lakes regions. This diverse coalition found common ground in opposing Jackson's vision, particularly his actions against the Second Bank of the United States, which they felt was an abuse of executive power. The Panic of 1837 dealt a significant blow to the Democrats and gave the Whigs their chance to gain majority power, although it was short-lived due to internal divisions and the looming crisis over slavery.
In the 1850s, the inability of the Whigs to come together on the question of slavery and its expansion into new territories eventually led to the party's dissolution. Factions within the party ranged from those who wanted to create a new antislavery party to those who wanted to create a new union party, signifying deep internal conflicts that undercut any attempt to unite on national issues. By 1853, the fissures within the Whig Party signaled the end of the second party system and paved the way for new political alignments.