Whig
Whig refers to two related, but distinct, political traditions in the English-speaking world. In Britain, the term emerged in the late 17th century as a label for a faction opposed to the crown’s absolute prerogatives and supportive of parliamentary supremacy. Whigs favored limiting the powers of the monarch, upholding the Protestant succession, and promoting a constitutional framework for governance. The movement gained prominence during the Exclusion Crisis and was a major force in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which established parliamentary limits on the monarchy. Over the 18th century, Whigs generally advocated for a more regulated, commercially oriented state and were associated with elite commercial and metropolitan interests. Notable figures include Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury; John Somers; and Charles James Fox. By the mid-19th century, the Whigs had largely merged into the Liberal Party, and the distinct Whig identity faded as party organization and names evolved.
In the United States, the Whig Party existed from roughly 1833 to 1859. It formed in opposition
The term remains a historical label in both countries, signaling a lineage of advocacy for parliamentary or