Why did the new RepublicanParty form in 1854?

Answer 1

The republican party was formed from fragments of the Whigs, No-Nothings, Free-soilers, and anti-slavery democrats. This was in large part to anti-slavery sentiments in many northern and western states in the 1850's. The party began fielding viable candidates by the end of the decade, with some early notable members including: Salmon Chase, William Henry Seward, and Abraham Lincoln.

Answer 2

Ideological beginningsSee also: Third Party System

The Little White Schoolhouse in Ripon, Wisconsin, where the Republican Party was first organized locally in 1854

The Republican Party emerged in 1854. It began as coalition of anti-slavery "Conscience Whigs" and Free Soil Democrats opposed to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, submitted to Congress by Stephen Douglas in January 1854. The Act opened Kansas Territory and Nebraska Territory to slavery and future admission as slave states, thus implicitly repealing the prohibition on slavery in territory north of 36° 30′ latitude, which had been part of the Missouri Compromise. This change was viewed by Free-Soil and Abolitionist Northerners as an aggressive, expansionist maneuver by the slave-owning South.

The Act was supported by all Southerners and by Northern "Doughface" (pro-Southern) Democrats, and by still other northern Democrats persuaded by Douglas' doctrine of "popular sovereignty". In the North the old Whig party was almost defunct. The opponents were intensely motivated and began forming a new party. The new party went well beyond the issue of slavery in the territories. It envisioned modernizing the United States - emphasizing giving free western land to farmers ("free soil") as opposed to letting slave owners buy up the best lands, expanded banking, more railroads, and factories. They vigorously argued that free-market labor was superior to slavery and the very foundation of civic virtue and true republicanism - this is the "Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men" ideology.[2] The Republicans absorbed the previous traditions of its members, most of whom had been Whigs; others had been Democrats or members of third parties (especially the Free Soil Party and the American Party or Know Nothings). Many Democrats who joined up were rewarded with governorships.[3] or seats in the U.S. Senate[4] or House of Representatives.[5] Since its inception, its chief opposition has been the Democratic Party, but the amount of flow back and forth of prominent politicians between the two parties was quite high from 1854 to 1896.

Historians have explored the ethnocultural foundations of the party, along the line that ethnic and religious groups set the moral standards for their members, who then carried those standards into politics. The churches also provided social networks that politicians used to sign up voters. The pietistic churches emphasized the duty of the Christian to purge sin from society. Sin took many forms-alcoholism, polygamy and slavery became special targets for the Republicans. The Yankees, who dominated New England, much of upstate New York, and much of the upper Midwest were the strongest supporters of the new party. This was especially true for the pietistic Congregationalists and Presbyterians among them and (during the war), the Methodists, along with Scandinavian Lutherans. The Quakers were a small tight-knit group that was heavily Republican. The liturgical churches (Roman Catholic, Episcopal, German Lutheran), by contrast, largely rejected the moralism of the Republican Party; most of their adherents voted Democratic.[6]

Organizational beginningsThe first "anti-Nebraska" meeting where "Republican" was suggested as a name for a new anti-slavery party was held in a Ripon, Wisconsin schoolhouse on March 20, 1854.[7] The first statewide convention that formed a platform and nominated candidates under the name "Republican" was held "under the oaks" on the outskirts of Jackson, Michigan on July 6, 1854; it declared their new party opposed to the expansion of slavery into new territories and selected a state-wide slate of candidates. The Midwest took the lead in forming state party tickets, while the eastern states lagged a year or so.

There were no efforts to organize the party in the South, apart from St. Louis and a few areas adjacent to free states. The party initially had its base in the Northeast and Midwest. This caricature links Frémont to other radical or outlying movements such as temperance, feminism, socialism, free love, Anti-Catholicism, and abolition.

Establishing a national partyThe party launched its first national convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in February 1856, with its first national nominating convention held in the summer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[8]

John C. Frémont ran as the first Republican nominee for President in 1856, using the political slogan: "Free soil, free silver, free men, Frémont." Although Frémont's bid was unsuccessful, the party showed a strong base. It dominated in New England, New York and the northern Midwest, and had a strong presence in the rest of the North. It had almost no support in the South, where it was roundly denounced in 1856-60 as a divisive force that threatened civil war.[9]

Answer 3

John C. Fremont was the Republican candidate in this new party's first effort at running a national campaign.

Answer 4

John c. Fremont was the one who supported the republican party in 1854. He was the candidate.

Answer 5

The spread of slavery in the West was the issue the Republican Party rallied around in 1854. The party was founded that same year.

Answer 6

antislavery whigs and democrats joined forces with free-soilers to form the republican party
Anti-Slavery Whigs & Free Soilers.

Answer 7

Political parties were trying to please voters from different classes and different regions of the country. The Republican Party was formed in response to national events.