The Birth of the Republican Party

Slavery Divides Whigs The Whig party had long been divided into two separate factions: Two factions divided over Compromise of 1850 because of the Fugitive Slave Act. Northern “conscience” (antislavery) Whigs Southern “cotton” (proslavery) Whigs.

Upcoming Election of 1852 The defeat and doom of the Whig Party Democrats - Franklin Pierce- enemyless, inconspicious, prosouthern northerner. Endorse Compromise 1850 and Fugitive Slave Law Whigs - didn’t pick Webster or Fillmore. Instead went with military guy- Gen Winfield Scott. OK with Compromise of 1850 Whigs split and begin to die in this election. End of national parties and rise of purely sectional parties. RIP Whig Party - kept Union together through electoral strength in South and through leaders like Webster and Clay

1852 Presidential Election √ Franklin Pierce Gen. Winfield ScottJohn Parker Hale DemocratWhigFree Soil

Slavery Divides Whigs Because Winfield Scott owed nomination to northern Whigs, he wasn’t a big supporter of Compromise of Alienated southern Whigs. Whig vote in the South dropped from 50% in 1848 to 35% in Divided vote gave presidency to Democrat Franklin Pierce.

1852 Election Results

New Political Parties Emerge The political landscape very different than it had been in Whig party split over the issue of slavery- lost support in the North and the South. Democratic party still alive.

Slavery Divides Whigs The 1854 Kansas Nebraska Act was the final straw in eliminating the Whig party. Southern Whigs looked for a proslavery, pro-Union party to join. Northern Whigs looked for a political alternative of their own.

Know-Nothing Party (the American Party) One alternative for the former Whigs. The Know-Nothings developed out of a secret society known as the Star-Spangled Banner club. When asked to to answer questions about their activities, they answered “I know nothing.” LINK  Nativists.  Anti-Catholics.  Anti-immigrants.  Nativists.  Anti-Catholics.  Anti-immigrants.

Know-Nothing Party Supported longer naturalization period for immigrants to delay their ability to vote. Like the Whigs, Know-Nothings were split over the issue of slavery.

Antislavery Parties Form Two forerunners to Republican Party emerged during the 1840’s. Liberty Party- very small abolitionist party that divided the vote in 1844 and gave the presidency to James K. Polk over Henry Clay Free Soil Party: opposed extension of slavery into territories.

Free Soil Party chose former Democratic president Martin Van Buren as candidate. Failed to win any electoral votes, but won 10% of popular vote. Sent message that although not all Northerners supported abolition, they opposed extension of slavery into territories.

Free Soil Party Northern opposition to slavery not necessarily based on moral issues. Some supported racist laws prohibiting black settlement in their communities, and denying them the right to vote. Primarily objected to slavery’s competition with free labor. The extension of slavery threatened the free labor system.

Free Soil Party Did not agree with such events as the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act and the repeal of the Missouri Compromise (a.k.a. as the Kansas Nebraska Act of 1854) Felt that these events amounted to a conspiracy to spread slavery over the entire country, which had to be stopped.

The Republican Party -Birth of the Republican party 1854 Slavery had come to dominate the differences in the parties -by 1850 the differences had peaked so that anti- slavery Whigs, Democrats, and Free-Soilers formed a new anti-slavery party -official party policy was to oppose the growth of slavery where it did not exist.

Republican Party United in opposing the Kansas-Nebraska Act and keeping slavery out of the territories. Other than that, it embraced a wide range of opinions. As the party grew, it took on Free-Soilers, antislavery Whigs and Democrats, nativists from the North, and radical abolitionists.

The Republican Party Attracted temperance supporters, small farmers who wanted land grants in the West, commercial farmers and manufacturers who needed internal improvements to prosper. Support from wide range of diverse groups gave the Republican Party the strength it needed.

The Republican Party Primary competition was the Know- Nothing Party, which was well-organized at the state level. Both parties targeted the same group of voters. Republicans lacked national organization; they needed a development that would refocus people’s attention on slavery issue. P

The Republican Party “Bleeding Kansas” and “Bleeding Sumner” gave Republicans the issues it needed to challenge Democrats for presidency in 1856.

Presidential Election of 1856 √ James Buchanan John C. FremontMillard Fillmore DemocratRepublicanWhig & Know-Nothing

Election of 1856 Buchanan out of the country during the dispute over the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which made him “Kansasless”. Buchanan was the only true national candidate. Buchanan won election with only 45% of popular vote. Fremont: 33%; Fillmore: 22%.

1856 Election Results Note: 2 year old Republicans received a large chunk of the votes even if they did lose Election Results Note: 2 year old Republicans received a large chunk of the votes even if they did lose.

Election of 1856 Demonstrated that Democrats could win the presidency with national candidate who could compete in the North without alienating the South. Know-Nothings were in national decline. Republicans were now major political force in the North.