The Birth of the Republican Party Chapter 10 Section 3 The Birth of the Republican Party

New Political parties emerge By 1856, Whig party had split over the issue of slavery. Democratic Party was weak. New Republican Party was gaining strength. Slavery Divides Whigs Northern Whigs opposed the Fugitive Slave Act and gave “lukewarm” support to the Compromise of 1850. Southern Whigs supported the compromise to appear both pro-slavery and pro-Union. Whigs lost presidential election of 1852 due to divide. 1854: Kansas-Nebraska Act led to Whig Party’s demise. Southern Whigs now looked for a pro-slavery (pro-Union) party to join. Northern Whigs sought the alternative.

Nativism American Party: “Order of the Star-Spangled Banner” American Party members believed in nativism Due to secret handshakes & passwords, American Party would be known as, “Know-Nothing Party”. Middle class Protestants, nativists, were worried about the large numbers of Catholic immigrants coming into the country in the 1830’s and 1840’s. Believed Catholics were overly influenced by the Pope and could form a conspiracy to overthrow the government. Know-Nothings split over the slave issue in the territories. Southern Know Nothings were trying to find another political party Northern Know Nothings began to edge towards Republicans.

ANTI SLAVERY PARTIES FORM forerunners to the Republican Party formed in 1840’s. Liberty Party: purpose was to pursue the cause of abolition by passing new laws. Free-Soil Party: opposed the extension of slavery into the new territories.

THE FREE SOILERS The Free Soilers William Loyd Garrison: “It is a party for keeping Free Soil and not for setting men free.” many northerners were Free-Soilers without being abolitionists. Many supported laws prohibiting black settlement in their communities and denying blacks the right to vote. objected to slavery’s impact on free white workers in the wage-based labor force, which the North depended on. believed that a conspiracy existed to spread slavery throughout the United States.

REPUBLICAN PARTY discontented Northern Whigs, anti-slavery Democrats, and Free-Soilers held a meeting to form a new political party. July 1854: Republican Party was formally organized in Jackson, Michigan. Party was united in opposing the Kansas-Nebraska Act and keeping slavery out of the territories. Embraced a wide range of opinions Conservative faction hoped to resurrect Missouri Compromise. Some were radical abolitionists Republican Party’s ability to draw support from diverse groups provided the party with strength. Republican gained supporters from “Bleeding Kansas” and “Bleeding Sumner” and was able to challenge Democrats for 1856 Presidential Election.

1856 ELECTION Republican candidate: John C. Fremont (mapped Oregon Trail & led troops into California during Mexican War) Know Nothings: Millar Fillmore (former US President & Whig) Democratic candidate: James Buchanan - minister to Great Britain, had been out of US during Kansas-Nebraska Act (no political enemies) ELECTION: Buchanan : 45% of votes (won all southern states except Maryland) Fremont: 33% of votes (won 11 of the 16 free states) Fillmore: 22% of votes

CONCLUSIONS - Democrats could win presidency with a national candidate who could compete in North without alienating Southerners. - Know-Nothings were in decline - Republicans were a political force in the north.