Whig

Whig, member of a former British political party, traditionally in opposition to the Tory party. A Whig may also be a member of the Whig party of the United States. The name is probably derived from Whiggamore, a derogatory term first applied to the Covenanters of 17th-century Scotland, who were supporters of Presbyterianism.

Later in the 17th century the Whig party of England emerged in opposition to King Charles II and to the accession of the Roman Catholic duke of York as James II. The party was largely responsible for the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which established the supremacy of Parliament over the king. Backed by the growing British mercantile and industrial interests, the landed but untitled gentry, and the Protestant dissenters, or nonconformists, the Whig party achieved control of the government in 1714 on the accession of King George I. For nearly 50 years the Whigs remained in power, until in 1760 the opposition Tory party rode a wave of conservative sentiment into office. During this period, those American colonists who supported the American Revolution were known as Whigs.

For 70 years the Whig party was in the minority in Britain. In 1830, however, their reform platform won popular support, and they were returned to office. During the next few years they passed important reform legislation, known collectively as the Reform Bills. At the same time, the Whig party became known as the Liberal party and the Tory party as the Conservative party.