輝格黨於1833年冬天至1834年之間，由前民主共和黨與国家共和党兩黨黨員如亨利·克雷與約翰·昆西·亞當斯等，以及南方的州權擁護者如威利·頗森·緬甘（英语：Willie Person Mangum）（Willie Person Mangum）等共組。在建黨之初，輝格黨僅因反對安德魯·傑克森總統之政策而協同一致，特別是對其不經國會同意即自合眾國第二銀行結清政府款項感到不滿。在拒行聯邦法危机（英语：nullification crisis）（nullification crisis）中，因傑克森總統以民族主義反對南卡羅來納而深受冒犯的南方人如約翰·泰勒等亦受輝格黨所吸引。輝格黨矢言維護國會至上之地位，以反對『安德魯大帝』（“King Andrew”）之施政；黨名因此取自反對君權而支持英國國會掌政的英國輝格黨。輝格黨認為傑克森總統行為反動，為反對社會、經濟、道德三項現代化的危險人物。由於傑克森整肅異己、否決境內改進、又摧毀合眾國央行，驚慌不安的地方菁英人士開始反擊。他們主張，美國國會，而非美國總統，代表美國人民之意願。在控制參議院一段時間後，傑克森的政敵們通過譴責案，通令譴責傑克森以行政權傲慢地僭越國會所代表的真實民意（此案後遭刪除）1830年代的爭議核心為合眾國第二銀行，在歷經1832年總統選舉的亨利·克雷以及1836年總統選舉多名候選人的混戰後，反對者終於在1840年團結一致支持孚眾望的威廉·亨利·哈里森將軍，證明全國性的輝格黨足以贏得大選。
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