The Democratic Party and the Whig party were largely opposed to each other in their ideals. The Democrats, led by Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Burnett, and James Madison, were devoted to Jefferson's idea of an Agrarian Society regulated by the common man. They favored the rural interests of the working class over the wealthy, supported states' rights and the life real interpretation of the constitution. But their main goal was to prevent the government from becoming too much like a monarchy. The Democratic Party included supporters such as farmers, laborers, and Catholics. The Whigs Party, led by Henry Clay, William Seward, Daniel Webster and Horace Greeley, promoted the industry and manufacturing of the northern states. They were known as leaders of corporations, economic growth, labor, Democratic suffrage and as opponents of expansionism. The Whigs supported the second back of the United States, a high tariff, distribution of land revenues to the states and federal reapportionment of the House seats. They were advocated by free blacks and abolitionists, in addition …show more content…
The Whigs believed the government should do its best to protect businesses and industry with tariffs on imports, construction of harbors, railroads and a National banking system. The farmers and industrialists of the north liked the idea of a railroad as it would generally increase their means of selling their products. However, people who were not merchants or farmers opposed because they did not want to pay additional taxes to support large-scale commerce and were irritated about higher prices on goods because of the tariff. They did not understand that the Whig's party intentions were to make America more stable by building roads and canals. Democrats believed agriculture was the best way to grow the country while the Whigs believed in