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 various groups, including former Federalists and anti-slavery advocates. Key figures included Henry Clay and Daniel Webster. However, the Whig Party struggled with internal divisions, particularly over the issue of slavery, leading to its decline in the 1850s and eventual dissolution.