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| Color | |
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| Abbreviation | D-Hn |
| Website | |
| Country | United States |
| Established | 0000-00-00 |
| Disbanded | 0000-00-00 |
| Contributor | Thomas Walker |
| Last Edited | RBH - August 14, 2015 04:16pm |
| Description | The Hunkers were the conservative faction. They opposed the Barnburners, and favored state banks, internal improvements, and minimizing the slavery issue. The term hunker has obscure origins, but probably came from the Dutch word honk, meaning “post,” “station,” or “home.” It was basically a synonym for “stick in the mud,” and became a contemptuous nickname, like “mossback,” for the unprogressive members of a party, which detested change. Among the leaders of the Hunkers were Horatio Seymour, William L. Marcy, Samuel Beardsley, Edwin Croswell, and Daniel S. Dickinson.
Following the 1848 election, the Hunkers themselves split over the question of reconciliation with the Barnburners, with the Softs, led by Marcy, favoring reconciliation, and the Hards, led by Dickinson, opposing it. This split would be exacerbated following the 1852 presidential election, when disputes over patronage led to an even broader split between Hards and Softs, and helped lead to the defeat of the Soft governor, Horatio Seymour, for re-election in 1854. |
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