Lincoln and rise of Republican Party Flashcards
Which were the main 2 political parties before 1854? What divided them?
Whigs and Democrats
Whigs supported a national bank, Democrats opposed it
When did the Whigs collapse?
1852
What provoked the emergence of the Republican party?
The violence that broke out in Kansas following the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act
Who was the Republican candidate in 1856? How many northern states did he win?
John Frémont, all except 4
When was the first convention of the Republican party?
6th July 1854
In which geographical areas did the Republicans have most of their support?
North and West
Which northern economic policies did the Republic party promote?
Tariffs, improvements in communications and the growth of free westward expansion
Was Lincoln an abolitionist? When did he envisage slavery ending?
No. He was morally against slavery and thought it damaged the economy/international relations but couldn’t see the South surviving without it. Envisaged slavery ending in around 1900.
Who was Lincoln against in the 1858 Illinois Senate election?
Stephen Douglas (creator of the Kansas-Nebraska Act)
How did the Dred Scott decision impact the Republican Party?
The Republican party denounced the decision as part of the ‘Slave Power Conspiracy’
Gained political momentum by opposing the ruling
Meant that Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858 were primarily over slavery
Did Lincoln win the Senate seat in the 1858 election against Douglas?
No
