Constitutional Union Party

Definition

The Constitutional Union Party was a political party in the United States created in 1860 which pledged to uphold the Constitution, the Union, and enforce laws. It was formed by former Whigs who wanted to avoid secession over the slavery issue.

Related terms

Whig Party: A political party active in mid-19th century America that opposed Jacksonian Democracy and advocated for modernization; many members later joined Constitutional Union Party.

Compromise of 1850: A series of laws passed in an attempt to settle disagreements over slavery; this is something that members of Constitutional Union Party would have been interested in upholding.

John Bell: The presidential candidate for the Constitutional Union Party during Election of 1860.