The Whig Party was a political party in the United States active during the mid-19th century. Founded in the 1830s, it emerged in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party. The Whigs supported a strong legislative branch, economic modernization, and infrastructure development. The party attracted a diverse coalition, including former Federalists, Anti-Masonic Party members, and discontented Democrats. Key figures included Henry Clay and Daniel Webster. The Whig Party eventually declined in the 1850s, largely due to internal divisions over issues like slavery, leading to its dissolution and the rise of the Republican Party.