The Birth of the Republican Party Chapter 10.3

Horace Greely was an editor of the New York Tribune, a staunch abolitionist who was for banning slavery and against popular sovereignty. March 1855 Greely became upset with the Whig parties back and forth nature on slavery This began the anti-slavery political party known as the Republican Party.

New Political Party Emerges By the end of 1856 the Whig Party was split over slavery and the Democratic Party was weak, the Republican Party had a strong chance at the White House.

Slavery Divides Whigs Widening the split in the Whig Party over slavery in 1852 when General Winfield Scott became the nominee for president. The Whig vote in the South fell from 50% to 35% giving the election of 1852 to Franklin Pierce. The Northern Whigs and Southern Whigs were at odds and the Kansas Nebraska Act was the parties demise because of the debate on slavery. The Southerners broke away looking for a pro-slavery party to join.

Nativism An alternative was the American Party which had roots in a secret organization in a group known as the Order of the Star Spangled Banner. They believed in nativism favoring native-born Americans over immigrants The group walked around with special handshakes and about their activities responding with “I know nothing” and became known as the “Know Nothing Party”. Primarily middle-class Protestants were concerned at the number of immigrants who were Catholic in fear they were influenced by the Pope to come into the country and ultimately overthrow the government. Democratic Party courted immigrants and nativists voted for know nothing candidates. Northern Know Nothings started to edge toward the Republican Party.

Antislavery Party Forms The Liberty party was a small party for abolition, but it helped sway the Polk and Clay election of 1844. In 1848 the Free Soil Party was a party that opposed slavery extending in new territories. This party only won 10% of the votes but sent a message that people opposed the extension of slavery into the territories.

Free-Soilers Many northern free-soilers were not abolitionists but were against the right for blacks to vote. They were against the extension of slavery especially after the Fugitive Slave Laws were passed and the Missouri Compromise was repealed.

Republican Party On July 6, 1854, in Jackson Michigan, the Republican party was made up of northern Whigs, anti-slavery Democrats and free soilers. Among its founders were Horace Greely. They were united under the dislike of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and keeping slavery out of new territories, but that is where the similarities end. Conservatives- resurrect the Missouri Compromise Others wanted to abolish slavery

Ripon, Wisconsin

Election of 1856 1/3 James Buchanan John C Fremont Millard Fillmore

Election of 1856 2/3 Republican- John C Fremont -mapped Oregon trail, led US troops into California during the war with Mexico. Know-Nothing (Northerners) -endorsed Fremont Know-Nothing (Southerners) -Former president Millard Fillmore Democrats- James Buchanan - was out of the country during the Kansas Nebraska Act (upsetting no one)

Election of 1856 3/3 Buchanan won with 45% of the vote and won all of the south except Maryland. Freemont came in 2nd with 33% Fillmore came in third 22%