When Was the Filibuster Invented?

Indeed, until the late 1830s the filibuster remained a solely theoretical option, never actually exercised. The first Senate filibuster occurred in 1837 when a group of Whig senators filibustered to prevent allies of the Democratic President Andrew Jackson from expunging a resolution of censure against him.

When did the filibuster start?

Using the filibuster to delay debate or block legislation has a long history. The term filibuster, from a Dutch word meaning "pirate," became popular in the United States during the 1850s when it was applied to efforts to hold the Senate floor in order to prevent action on a bill.

What is the origin of the word filibuster?

Filibuster likely originated from the Dutch vrijbuiter, but came to English in the 1840s from the Spanish filibustero, meaning "freebooter"—that is, a pirate or plunderer. Shortly after its appearance in English, it moved from a military context to the political realm, as both a verb and a noun.