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The roots of the Republican party lay in the opposition to slavery,
which took a variety of forms in the pre-Civil War era. Some opponents of slavery looked to
political methods as a way of attacking the institution. Unable to find sufficient support in the
dominant DEMOCRATIC or WHIG parties, antislavery men launched the Liberty party in 1840.
Soon thereafter, antislavery forces fixed on a specific issue-opposition to the extension of
slavery into U. S. territories. In 1848 this led to the formation of the Free Soil party. Although
both these third parties quickly faded away, they helped crystallize attitudes on the issue of
slavery. As the political climate heated up in the 1850's, the existing two-party system collapsed
with the disappearance of the Whig party and the splintering of the Democratic party. Out of this
political upheaval emerged the Republican party.
which took a variety of forms in the pre-Civil War era. Some opponents of slavery looked to
political methods as a way of attacking the institution. Unable to find sufficient support in the
dominant DEMOCRATIC or WHIG parties, antislavery men launched the Liberty party in 1840.
Soon thereafter, antislavery forces fixed on a specific issue-opposition to the extension of
slavery into U. S. territories. In 1848 this led to the formation of the Free Soil party. Although
both these third parties quickly faded away, they helped crystallize attitudes on the issue of
slavery. As the political climate heated up in the 1850's, the existing two-party system collapsed
with the disappearance of the Whig party and the splintering of the Democratic party. Out of this
political upheaval emerged the Republican party.
HISTORY
FLORIDA FEDERATION OF BLACK REPUBLICANS
The new party got off to a shaky start. It faced opposition not only from the Democrats but also from the so-called
"Know Nothings," who formed yet another party. Out of this political chaos came a new party system, dominated by the
issue of slavery, which most benefited the young Republican party. Building on a base of former Free-Soilers,
anti-Nebraska Democrats, and antislavery Whigs, the Republican party stood primarily for a ban on slavery in the
territories. In the presidential campaign of 1856 the Republicans heralded their candidate, John C. Frémont, with the
chant, "Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Speech, Free Men, Frémont." In a losing effort Frémont captured 33% of the
popular vote. By 1860, Republicans were in a strong position. The Whig party had disappeared, the
Know-Nothing party had faded, and the Democratic party was deeply divided over the issue of slavery. In
1860 a four-way presidential race brought victory to the Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln, who won a
decisive majority of the electoral votes. However, the Republican victory was a narrow sectional one. Outside
of the North the party carried only California and Oregon. Nevertheless, the Republican party was the first
and thus far the only third party in American history to succeed in becoming one of the two major parties.
Lincoln's victory led to secession by slave-holding Southern states. The ultimate withdrawal of 11 states
gave the Republicans control of the federal government. In the course of the Civil War, Republicans
abolished slavery. They also adopted a far-reaching economic program as promised in their 1860 platform.
"Know Nothings," who formed yet another party. Out of this political chaos came a new party system, dominated by the
issue of slavery, which most benefited the young Republican party. Building on a base of former Free-Soilers,
anti-Nebraska Democrats, and antislavery Whigs, the Republican party stood primarily for a ban on slavery in the
territories. In the presidential campaign of 1856 the Republicans heralded their candidate, John C. Frémont, with the
chant, "Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Speech, Free Men, Frémont." In a losing effort Frémont captured 33% of the
popular vote. By 1860, Republicans were in a strong position. The Whig party had disappeared, the
Know-Nothing party had faded, and the Democratic party was deeply divided over the issue of slavery. In
1860 a four-way presidential race brought victory to the Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln, who won a
decisive majority of the electoral votes. However, the Republican victory was a narrow sectional one. Outside
of the North the party carried only California and Oregon. Nevertheless, the Republican party was the first
and thus far the only third party in American history to succeed in becoming one of the two major parties.
Lincoln's victory led to secession by slave-holding Southern states. The ultimate withdrawal of 11 states
gave the Republicans control of the federal government. In the course of the Civil War, Republicans
abolished slavery. They also adopted a far-reaching economic program as promised in their 1860 platform.
The leading issues were (1)
the Homestead Act, (2) the
Morrill Land Grant Act, (3)
higher tariff duties, (4)
federal aid for a
transcontinental railroad,
and (5) encouragement of a
national banking system.
the Homestead Act, (2) the
Morrill Land Grant Act, (3)
higher tariff duties, (4)
federal aid for a
transcontinental railroad,
and (5) encouragement of a
national banking system.
First Republican
With the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, the Republicans firmly established themselves as a major party capable of
holding onto the White House for 60 of the next 100 years. Faced with the first shots of the Civil War barely a month
after his inauguration, preserving the Union was Lincoln's greatest challenge--and no doubt his greatest achievement.
But it was by no means his only accomplishment.
Amid the fierce and bloody battles of the Civil War, the Lincoln administration established the Department of
Agriculture, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and a national banking system. Understanding the importance of settling the
frontier, as well as having a piece of land to call your own, Lincoln passed the Homestead Act, which satisfied the
former Free Soil members by offering public land grants. Hoping to encourage a higher level of education, Lincoln also
donated land for agricultural and technical colleges to the states through the Land Grant College Act, which established
universities throughout the United States.
Fully sensitive to the symbolism of their name, the Republicans worked to deal the death blow to slavery with Lincoln's
Emancipation Proclamation and the passage, by a Republican Congress, of the 13th Amendment, which outlawed
slavery. Hoping to permanently turn back the Democratic advance in the South, immediately after the Civil War the
Republican Congress continued to push through legislation to extend the full protection of civil rights to blacks.
During Reconstruction, the mostly Democratic South, which had seceded from both the Union and Congress, struggled
to regain its footing. Meanwhile, the Republicans took advantage of their majority and passed several measures to
improve the quality of life for blacks throughout the entire Union. First the Republicans passed a Civil Rights Act in
1866 recognizing blacks as U.S. Citizens. This act hoped to weaken the South by denying states the power to restrict
blacks from testifying in a court of law or from owning their own property.
Continuing to take advantage of their majority, Republicans proposed the 14th Amendment, which became part of the
Constitution in 1868, stating: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,
are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life,
liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of
the laws."
That same year the Republican Congress also passed the National Eight Hour Law, which, though it applied only to
government workers, brought relief for overworked federal employees by limiting the work day to eight hours.
With the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, the Republicans firmly established themselves as a major party capable of
holding onto the White House for 60 of the next 100 years. Faced with the first shots of the Civil War barely a month
after his inauguration, preserving the Union was Lincoln's greatest challenge--and no doubt his greatest achievement.
But it was by no means his only accomplishment.
Amid the fierce and bloody battles of the Civil War, the Lincoln administration established the Department of
Agriculture, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and a national banking system. Understanding the importance of settling the
frontier, as well as having a piece of land to call your own, Lincoln passed the Homestead Act, which satisfied the
former Free Soil members by offering public land grants. Hoping to encourage a higher level of education, Lincoln also
donated land for agricultural and technical colleges to the states through the Land Grant College Act, which established
universities throughout the United States.
Fully sensitive to the symbolism of their name, the Republicans worked to deal the death blow to slavery with Lincoln's
Emancipation Proclamation and the passage, by a Republican Congress, of the 13th Amendment, which outlawed
slavery. Hoping to permanently turn back the Democratic advance in the South, immediately after the Civil War the
Republican Congress continued to push through legislation to extend the full protection of civil rights to blacks.
During Reconstruction, the mostly Democratic South, which had seceded from both the Union and Congress, struggled
to regain its footing. Meanwhile, the Republicans took advantage of their majority and passed several measures to
improve the quality of life for blacks throughout the entire Union. First the Republicans passed a Civil Rights Act in
1866 recognizing blacks as U.S. Citizens. This act hoped to weaken the South by denying states the power to restrict
blacks from testifying in a court of law or from owning their own property.
Continuing to take advantage of their majority, Republicans proposed the 14th Amendment, which became part of the
Constitution in 1868, stating: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,
are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life,
liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of
the laws."
That same year the Republican Congress also passed the National Eight Hour Law, which, though it applied only to
government workers, brought relief for overworked federal employees by limiting the work day to eight hours.
The Republican Party from the beginning has always thrived on challenges
and difficult positions. Its present role as leader of the revolution in which the
principles of government are being re-evaluated is a role it has traditionally
embraced. Abolishing slavery. Free speech. Women's suffrage.
In today's stereotypes, none of these sounds like a typical Republican issue, yet
they are stances the Republican Party, in opposition to the Democratic Party,
adopted early on. Reducing the government. Streamlining the
bureaucracy. Returning power to the states. These issues don't
sound like they would be the promises of the party of Lincoln, the party that
fought to preserve the national union, but they are, and logically so. With a core
belief in the idea of the primacy of individuals, the Republican Party, since its
inception, has been at the forefront of the fight for individuals' rights in opposition
to a large, bloated government.
and difficult positions. Its present role as leader of the revolution in which the
principles of government are being re-evaluated is a role it has traditionally
embraced. Abolishing slavery. Free speech. Women's suffrage.
In today's stereotypes, none of these sounds like a typical Republican issue, yet
they are stances the Republican Party, in opposition to the Democratic Party,
adopted early on. Reducing the government. Streamlining the
bureaucracy. Returning power to the states. These issues don't
sound like they would be the promises of the party of Lincoln, the party that
fought to preserve the national union, but they are, and logically so. With a core
belief in the idea of the primacy of individuals, the Republican Party, since its
inception, has been at the forefront of the fight for individuals' rights in opposition
to a large, bloated government.
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