Show HISTORY I FOUNDING OF THE REPUBLICAN REPUBLICAN CAN PARTY PARTY July July 6 The Thc Republican Republican lican party was founded at Jack- Jack Jackson Jackson Jackson son Mich on July 6 1854 The Thc an an- anniversary anniversary of the founding is still observed by members of the party at Jackson The party came into being because of the demoralization tion of the old Whig party and the thc dissatisfaction of many northern northern- northerners ers with the attitude of the Demo Democrats Democrats Democrats toward the slavery issue The Missouri Compromise which for for- forbade forbade forbade bade the introduction of slavery in any part of the thc Louisiana territory north of the thc southern of Missouri while permitting t Slav Slav- sl v. v Missouri while permitting t Slav Slav- sl v. v slavery cry ery in Missouri failed to settle the matter The Nebraska Kansas-Nebraska Bill was passed in 1854 This permitted new states to decide whether they were to be slave or free and repealed th Missouri Com Corn promise This aroused the opponents opponents of slavery The bill was pass pass- passed passed ed on May 27 1854 On February 28 a mass meeting of Whigs Dem Dem- Democrats Democrats and Free Sollers met at Ripon Wisconsin and agreed that if the thc bill should pass they would form a new party on the issue of the of slavery With With- Within in a few weeks a local organization was affected and the thc name Republican can suggested for the new party parly Michigan opponents of slavery met metat metat metat at Jackson on July 6 organized a anew anew anew new party and gave to it the name Republican and arranged for the nomination of candidates candidates- for all offices In less than a year the new party had elected eleven United States Senators and a number of Representatives The first national convention was is held beld in Philadel Philadel- Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia phia on June 17 1856 Colonel John C. C Fremont received the nom nom- nomination nomination nomination for president but was de do- defeated defeated by James Buchanan the Democratic candidate In the elec elec- election election election tion in 1860 the thc Republicans won with Abraham Lincoln in a three cornered contest and won every election until that of 1884 when Grover Cleveland Democrat de defeated de- de defeated James G. G Elaine Blame the Republican Republican lican nominee r |