what political party was henry clay?
Whig Party
entailment
 The political situation in the country was quite fluid in the late 1820s . The Federalist Party had collapsed , and the victorious Democratic @-@ Republican Party had become diffuse , resulting in political factionalism in place of party affiliation . Everett was associated with the " National Republican " faction of John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay . He supported Clay 's " National System " — which called for protective tariffs , internal improvements , and a national bank — and the interests of Massachusetts ' propertied class . Everett was re @-@ elected to four additional terms as a National Republican , serving until 1835 . The National Republicans formally became the Whig Party in 1834 . 

contradiction
 The political situation in the late 1820s and 1830s was quite fluid . The Democrats were highly factionalized , with three major groups vying with one another for control of the party apparatus . Morton 's support base consisted mainly of farmers , industrial and shipyard laborers , and recent immigrants . A second faction , dominated by Theodore Lyman , consisted of merchants and wealthy coastal interests opposed to Whig interests . The third faction , which successfully controlled the party apparatus in its early years , was headed by David Henshaw , who had split from the John Quincy Adams camp over political aspects of the bridge controversy . Henshaw was the principal party organizing force , while Morton became a perennial gubernatorial candidate , running for the office each year from 1828 to 1843 . The party was supported in its organizing efforts by Morton 's friend John Calhoun , who served as Vice President under Adams and Jackson . Morton generally did no overt campaigning , sensitive to maintaining the appearance of neutrality as a judge . 

entailment
 Financial problems caused Breckinridge to leave William and Mary after the spring semester in 1784 . Because of his studies earlier in the year , he had no time to campaign for reelection to the House of Delegates , so he asked his brother Joseph and his cousin John Preston to campaign on his behalf . Initially , his prospects seemed favorable , but he was beaten by future Virginia Congressman George Hancock . After the defeat , voters from Montgomery County – where Breckinridge had previously been a surveyor – chose him to represent them in the House . He was appointed to the prestigious committees on Propositions and Grievances , Courts of Justice , Religion , and Investigation of the Land Offices . His fellow committee members included Henry Tazewell , Carter Henry Harrison , Edward Carrington , Spencer Roane , John Marshall , Richard Bland Lee , and Wilson Cary Nicholas . Inspired by his legislative service , he spent the summer between legislative sessions studying to become a lawyer . The legislative session focused on domestic issues like whether Virginia should establish a tax to benefit religion in the state . Breckinridge was not associated with any denomination , and his writings indicate that he was opposed to such a tax . Instead , he and James Madison secured approval of a religious liberty bill first proposed by Thomas Jefferson over five years earlier . The legislature rose on January 7 , 1785 , and Breckinridge was admitted to the bar later that year , beginning practice in Charlottesville . 

neutral
 Realizing Clay was unlikely to win the presidency , Lincoln , who had pledged in 1846 to serve only one term in the House , supported General Zachary Taylor for the Whig nomination in the 1848 presidential election . Taylor won and Lincoln hoped to be appointed Commissioner of the General Land Office , but that lucrative patronage job went to an Illinois rival , Justin Butterfield , considered by the administration to be a highly skilled lawyer , but in Lincoln 's view , an " old fossil " . The administration offered him the consolation prize of secretary or governor of the Oregon Territory . This distant territory was a Democratic stronghold , and acceptance of the post would have effectively ended his legal and political career in Illinois , so he declined and resumed his law practice . 

entailment
 Concerned about the new Constitution , Adams made an attempt to reenter national politics . He allowed his name to be put forth as a candidate for the United States House of Representatives in the December 1788 election , but lost to Fisher Ames , apparently because Ames was a stronger supporter of the Constitution , a more popular position . Despite his defeat , Adams continued to work for amendments to the Constitution , a movement that ultimately resulted in the addition of a Bill of Rights in 1791 . With these amendments , and the possibility of more , Adams subsequently became a firm supporter of the Constitution . 
