The Birth of the Republican Party Chapter 10 Section 3

I New Political Parties Emerge A. Slavery Divides Whigs Whig party is divided – Northern “conscious” Whigs = antislavery – Southern “cotton” Whigs= pro slavery Whigs nominate Winfield who owed nomination to the conscious whigs  cotton Whig vote falling – Allows Dem. Pierce to win election

Kansas-Nebraska Act furthered the Whig split because conscious and cotton Whigs took opposing positions – No Nat'l platform  S faction creating a pro slavery party while N Whigs look for their own pol. alternative

B. Nativism American Party appears as alternative – Roots in secret org. known as the “Know-nothings” Americans frightened by the sharp increase of im.  nativism – The favoring of native born ppl over im.

Middle class protestants of Amer. Feared catholic influence – Fear of the “papal power” rested on belief that Cath. Threatened Democracy because the church held Pope as ultimate authority American party formed by nativists became known as the Know-Nothings – Instructed to say they no nothing about their secret order (Star Bangled banner society) Why would nativists support longer naturalization periods for immigrants?

II Antislavery parties Form One forerunner of the Republican Party (Liberty Party) formed to pursue antislavery laws Another forerunner (Free-Soil Party) opposed extension of slavery

A. The Free-Soil Voice Opposition was not necessarily based on good intentions towards African Americans – Some N were Free-Soilers w/o supporting abolition – Some supported racist laws settling in their com. And denying right to vote

Free-Soilers mainly objected slavery’s competition w/ free white workers – Believed extension of slavery threatened free labor system that the N depended on

B. Republican Party Opponents of slavery in the terr. Met and created the Republican Party – Unite under opp. To slavery in the terr. As the party grew it took in Northerners form other parties that fell apart – Farmers, abolitionists, manufacturers Ability to attract diverse group of ppl allowed them to compete w/ other parties

C. Election of 1856 Republicans chooses free-soiler John C. Freemont Know-nothings split endorsement between Freemont & former Whig pres. Fillmore Dem. Nominate Buchanan of Penn – Northerner but had mostly S support and was not around for Kansas-Nebraska debate

Dem. James Buchanan’s victory makes clear 3 things – Dem learn they could win w/ N candidate who didn’t alienate the S – Know-Nothings, Like Whigs, were in decline – Republicans were a pol. Force in the N