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The party of ] was originally characterized by its opposition to the expansion of slavery. During the ] era, the Republicans benefitted from the ]' association with the ] and dominated national politics virtually without opposition for several years. With the two-term presidency of ], the party became known for its strong advocacy of commerce, industry, and veterans' rights, which continued through the end of the ]. The party of ] was originally characterized by its opposition to the expansion of slavery. During the ] era, the Republicans benefitted from the ]' association with the ] and dominated national politics virtually without opposition for several years. With the two-term presidency of ], the party became known for its strong advocacy of commerce, industry, and veterans' rights, which continued through the end of the ].


The assassination of ] and subsequent ascendance of ] lead to a brief dominance of ] for the party. However, that gave way to the ] economic policies of the ] with ], ], and ]. Following Hoover's sound defeat by ] in ], the Republican Party was driven into the opposition for two decades. Following ]'s unexpected victory in ], the Republicans finally regained the presidency in ] with the election of moderate ]. The assassination of ] and subsequent ascendance of ] lead to a brief dominance of ] for the party. However, that gave way to the ] economic policies of the ] with ], ], and ]. Following Hoover's sound defeat by ] in ], the Republican Party was driven into the opposition for two decades. The Republicans finally regained the presidency in ] with the election of the former Supreme Allied Commander ].


The party was still split between a conservative wing (dominant in the western U.S.) and a liberal wing (dominant in the northeastern U.S.). The seeds of conservative dominance in the Republican party were planted in the nomination of ] over ] as the Republican candidate for the ]. Goldwater represented the conservative wing of the party, while Rockefeller represented the liberal wing. The party was still split between a conservative wing (dominant in the western U.S.) and a liberal wing (dominant in the northeastern U.S.). The seeds of conservative dominance in the Republican party were planted in the nomination of ] over ] as the Republican candidate for the ]. Goldwater represented the conservative wing of the party, while Rockefeller represented the liberal wing.
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The party's current position as firmly to the right of the ] was cemented by the "Southern strategy" employed by ] in the The party's current position as firmly to the right of the ] was cemented by the "Southern strategy" employed by ] in the
], followed by the Goldwater-inspired candidacy and election of ] in the ]. Today, "conservative" and "Republican" are practically synonymous. In ], the Republicans took control of the House of Representatives for the first time in decades. They also won control of the Senate, which had changed hands several times in the previous decades. ], followed by the Goldwater-inspired candidacy and election of ] in the ]. Today, "conservative" and "Republican" are practically synonymous. In ], the Republicans took control of the House of Representatives for the first time in decades. They also won control of the Senate, which had changed hands several times in the previous decades.

After the 1994 sweep of Congress, the GOP began to engage in supporting radical reforms of government with measures such as the balanced budget amendment and welfare reform. These measures and others formed the famous, "Contract with America" which largely failed, with only certain provisions such as welfare reform being enacted only after bitter fighting.

With the election of ] in 2000 conservatives controlled the two political branches of government for the first time in numerous years. The ensuing foreign policy crisis after the attacks 11 September forged the Republican Party as hawkish, pro-Israel, pro-foreign intervention, and anti-teror party.


The party is sometimes called "'''GOP'''", for "Grand Old Party." The symbol of the Republican Party is the ]. The party is sometimes called "'''GOP'''", for "Grand Old Party." The symbol of the Republican Party is the ].

Revision as of 05:02, 13 August 2003


File:Republicanlogo.jpg

The Republican party is a United States political party that was organized in Ripon, Wisconsin on February 28, 1854 as an anti-slavery party. (It is not to be confused with the Democratic-Republican party of Thomas Jefferson). The first convention of the U.S. Republican Party was held on July 6, 1854 in in Jackson, Michigan. Many of its initial policies were inspired by the defunct Whig Party. Since its inception, its chief opponent has been the United States Democratic Party.

The party of Lincoln was originally characterized by its opposition to the expansion of slavery. During the Reconstruction era, the Republicans benefitted from the Democrats' association with the Confederacy and dominated national politics virtually without opposition for several years. With the two-term presidency of Ulysses S. Grant, the party became known for its strong advocacy of commerce, industry, and veterans' rights, which continued through the end of the 19th century.

The assassination of William McKinley and subsequent ascendance of Theodore Roosevelt lead to a brief dominance of Progressivism for the party. However, that gave way to the laissez faire economic policies of the 1920s with Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. Following Hoover's sound defeat by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932, the Republican Party was driven into the opposition for two decades. The Republicans finally regained the presidency in 1952 with the election of the former Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower.

The party was still split between a conservative wing (dominant in the western U.S.) and a liberal wing (dominant in the northeastern U.S.). The seeds of conservative dominance in the Republican party were planted in the nomination of Barry Goldwater over Nelson Rockefeller as the Republican candidate for the 1964 presidential election. Goldwater represented the conservative wing of the party, while Rockefeller represented the liberal wing.

The party's current position as firmly to the right of the Democrats was cemented by the "Southern strategy" employed by Richard Nixon in the 1968 presidential election, followed by the Goldwater-inspired candidacy and election of Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election. Today, "conservative" and "Republican" are practically synonymous. In 1994, the Republicans took control of the House of Representatives for the first time in decades. They also won control of the Senate, which had changed hands several times in the previous decades.

After the 1994 sweep of Congress, the GOP began to engage in supporting radical reforms of government with measures such as the balanced budget amendment and welfare reform. These measures and others formed the famous, "Contract with America" which largely failed, with only certain provisions such as welfare reform being enacted only after bitter fighting.

With the election of George W. Bush in 2000 conservatives controlled the two political branches of government for the first time in numerous years. The ensuing foreign policy crisis after the attacks 11 September forged the Republican Party as hawkish, pro-Israel, pro-foreign intervention, and anti-teror party.

The party is sometimes called "GOP", for "Grand Old Party." The symbol of the Republican Party is the elephant.

Republican Party Presidents:

  1. Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)
  2. Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877)
  3. Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881)
  4. James Garfield (1881)
  5. Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885)
  6. Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893)
  7. William McKinley (1897-1901)
  8. Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)
  9. William Howard Taft (1909-1913)
  10. Warren G. Harding (1921-1923)
  11. Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)
  12. Herbert Hoover (1929-1933)
  13. Dwight Eisenhower (1953-1961)
  14. Richard Nixon (1969-1974)
  15. Gerald R. Ford (1974-1977)
  16. Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)
  17. George H. W. Bush (1989-1993)
  18. George W. Bush (2001-present)

Presidential candidates:

Other noted Republicans:

Joseph Gurney Cannon
Newt Gingrich
Thomas Brackett Reed
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller
Robert Alphonso Taft

External links