Whig Party (Carolina)

The Whig Party was a major Carolinian political party that lasted from 1888 to 1934. During this time, it was the main opposition to the Democratic Party and generally attracted modernist voters who sought to industrialize Carolina and modernize Carolinian society. While the party was formed in 1888, it has roots to the Federal Party along with the Carolinian Party, both of which campaigned for a stronger federal government rather than a confederation. The party was formed by supporters of Democratic President Jacquees Longurue following the end of his second term in 1888. While President Longurue enjoyed widespread support, the plantation aristocracy that the Democratic Party leaned on at the time saw his vision of a modern and industrial Carolina as a threat to their power. Therefore, the Democratic Party nominated traditionalist Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar II as President in 1888. In response, many advent followers of Longurue formed their own party and nominated Governor Augustin Gauterot of North Carolina to the Presidency. The Whigs did surprisingly well which stunned Democrats who now had a challenge at the power they had held since 1861.

Lamar's term led to economic stagnation and a decline in immigration, which led to mixed results for the Democratic Party. In the 1890 midterm elections, the Whig Party was able to obtain a majority in the House of Representatives and remained competitive in the Senate. By the early 1890's the Whigs increasingly began to support the manumission of slaves across Carolina, however generally believed that the states should decide the matter. In 1892, the Whigs nominated Kevin Gauterot, the brother of Augustin Gauterot, who won the election. During the 1890's, the Whigs generally supported the end of slavery while Democrats continued their support of the practice, saying that it was vital to the economy. However, after North Carolina and Tennessee manumitted their slaves, they recieved a large economic boost. This proved that the Whig's were correct, and throughout the 1890's Whig's won big in state and local legislatures who then passed bills ending slavery.

The Whig Party was able to put pro-industry policies into place throughout the first two decades of the twentieth century without seeing a major socialist movement take place. This gained the party some respect even some support from the aristocracy which did not see their power taken away. With the rise of populist movements such as the Peoples Party and the left-wing Radical Liberal Party, the Whig and Democratic Parties began to side with one another. The Whig Party also saw its prominent position in Carolinian politics taken away by the Democratic Party after the end of World War I which led to a minor decline in the party. As Carolinian politics became more tumultuous during the administration of Wade Hampton V, the Whig Party once again saw a rise in prominence with Lionel Benoit winning the Presidential election in 1928. However, the Great Depression quickly put an end to this rise and led to a rapid decline of the party as its supports flocked to the Democratic Party. The effects of the Great Depression in Carolina splintered the country's political landscape and thus greatly hurt the Whig Party. The Democrats under Wilson Adde were able to prove victorious in the 1932 Presidential elections, which may prove to be the ending point for the Whig Party. As new far-right and far-left parties began to mount, the two center parties couldn't sustain their hold on politics. By 1933, most Whigs had left the party to become part of the Democratic Party. In 1934, the remaining leaders of the party officially merged with the Democrats, marking an end to the party's 46 year run in politics.