Two of its most key founding members, Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, had both died in 1852.

Additionally, the Whigs' New York state convention in Syracuse voted to join with the newly formed Republican Party.

Whig leaders from Kentucky met and held their state convention in April.

Delegates to these state conventions debated several options for the upcoming general election: the party could choose former President Millard Fillmore as its candidate, nominate another Whig, or endorse the Democratic candidate James Buchanan.

Twenty-six states out of thirty-one sent 150 delegates to the national convention in late September 1856.