When Trump got the big win in Alabama I was struck with the thought that there might be a throwback situation in process. I didn’t connect it to the Whigs but I thought it might involve southern resentment still lingering after all this time. The nativist element also reminds me of the American (Know-Nothing) party that was influential in today’s rust-belt/coal producing regions.
Indeed, and the American (Know-Nothing) party were the old Southern Whigs looking for a new home after Northern Whigs went anti-slavery Republicans on them.
They played important roles in the elections of 1856 through 1860.