Sun 6 Mar, 2011 02:26 pm
I've always been curious about the political party name Whig. I finally searched for the history of the Whigs. ---BBB
The term Whig was originally short for 'whiggamor', a nickname for western Scots who came to Leith for corn. In the reign of Charles II (1660-85) the term was used during Wars of the Three Kingdoms to refer derisively to a radical faction of the Scottish Covenanters who called themselves the "Kirk Party" (see the Whiggamore Raid). It was then applied to Scottish presbyterian rebels who were against the King's episcopalian order in Scotland.
The term 'Whig' entered English political discourse during the Exclusion Bill crisis of 1678–1681 when there was controversy about whether or not Charles's brother, James, should be allowed to succeed to the throne on Charles's death. 'Whig' was a term of abuse applied to those who wanted to exclude James on the grounds that he was a Roman Catholic. The fervent Tory Samuel Johnson often cracked that "the first Whig was the Devil."
Who were the Whigs in the U.S.?
A former political party in the United States; formed in 1834 in opposition to the Democratic Party; advocated a loose interpretation of the Constitution and high protective tariffs
The Whigs are often described as one of the two original political parties (the other being the Tories) in England and later the United Kingdom from the late 17th to the mid-19th centuries. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule. ...
A political party generally against slavery and its expansion into the territories. The Whig party had basically been swallowed up by the Democrat and Republican parties by the time of the Civil War.
Did you know that the first usage of Tory was a racial slur for the Irish from Tory Island, also known as bandits, pirates and thieves.
Thanks, it's fun to search for the ancient use of words that no longer have any meaning to us now.
You mean like 'Conservative'?
PS I liked reading the history of the Whigs, thanks.