Republican Party

The Republican Party, sometimes referred to as the Grand Old Party or GOP, formed in the 1850s in response to the divisions and indecisiveness of the Democratic Party and Whig Party regarding the issue of slavery . Those against slavery migrated to the Republican Party, as did those who favored federal government action in the development of the economy. Republicans were highly interested in developing a government favorable to business and banking interests.

The first Republican president of the United States was Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865; served 1861–65). He led the Union to victory in the American Civil War (1861–65), thereby abolishing the practice of slavery.

The period of rebuilding the South following the Civil War is known as Reconstruction (1865–77), and toward the end of that era, Republicans recognized the importance of guaranteeing African Americans voting and other rights and made promises toward that end. Regardless of color, Republicans needed Southern representatives in Congress. By the 1890s, however, that faction of Republicans most interested in securing those rights had died or left politics. The fight for African American rights at that time looked to be a losing battle, and Republicans no longer required Southern support because national trends were working in their favor. Promises were broken, and the party lost the support of the African American population almost entirely over the next few decades.

Because the majority of the poor population most adversely affected by the Great Depression (1929–41) was African American, Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945; served 1933–45) won the loyalty of blacks during that era as he provided financial relief and jobs.

As African Americans escalated their efforts to win civil rights in the 1950s, it was not clear which political party would take a leadership role. Democrats pursued economic policies African Americans supported, but Republicans, particularly in the North, supported civil rights legislation. As Democrats gradually became more supportive of civil rights in the early 1960s, they gained the support of African Americans. (See Civil Rights Movement .)

The 1990s was a decade of renewed Republican power in American politics. Democrat Bill Clinton (1946–; served 1993–2001) had led America through four years of liberal politics, and despite the fact that the national debt decreased remarkably under his leadership, Republican voters gave power once again to the Republican Party in Congress.

The 1994 midterm election focused on moral themes, and the Republican Party used Clinton's adultery, support of homosexuals in the military, and questionable personal ethics to create an atmosphere of untrustworthiness. Republicans won fifty-four seats in the House of Representatives and four in the Senate, which gave them control of both. To the surprise of many, however, Clinton managed to be reelected president two years later, and Republican leadership had to compromise their legislative agenda.

The first election of the twenty-first century saw Republican George W. Bush (1946–; served 2001–) elected to the White House as the nineteenth Republican president. Current ideology embraces lower taxes and limited government in most economic areas. Within the party, there are two branches of conservatism. One holds that limited government will allow society to flourish. The other concentrates less on economics and more on moral issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage. This second ideology is strongly in favor of the intermingling of church and state.

The Republican Party emphasizes the role of individuals being economically responsible for themselves, although they mostly agree that there should be limited assistance for the less fortunate. Generally speaking, the party believes the private sector is more effective in helping the poor than is the government. Republicans are, for the most part, opposed to labor unions and usually oppose increases in the minimum wage. Neither are they in favor of strict environmental standards because they believe such legislation hurts business. The party as a whole has always supported a strong national defense. More recently, it supports the idea that the United States has the right to act without international or outside support if doing so is in support of self-interest.