Rise of Republicans Flashcards
North claims ‘SPC’ for emergence of Republican Party
Factors in essay
- Slave power conspiracy argued by Farmer
- Collapse of the Whigs argued by McPherson
- Kansas-Nebraska act argued by McPherson - most important factor
Background information in introduction
- Kansas-Nebraska act of 1854 led to the collapse of the Whigs.
- The collapse led to the emergence of the Republican Party and the Nativist ‘Know Nothing’ Party, filling the void of the Whigs.
- Republicans were an anti slave expansion party, hated by South as their aim was to overthrow slavery.
Slave Power Conspiracy
KU/A/A+
KU - Democratic Party in power for over 50 years. Democrats split into north and south party over disagreements of slavery. Southern democrats dominated.
A - Southerners had an advantage as 5 out of 9 Supreme Court judges were from Southern states, therefore North sought for a new party to overrule Democrats, speeding up introduction of the Republicans.
KU - Bleeding Sumner of 1856. Charles Sumner (abolitionist) was hit on the head with a cane by Preston Brooks (pro slavery Democrat) in relation to an Anti-Slavery speech.
A - Many Southerners supported Brooks in his actions, even gifting him canes, proving the dominance and aggression of the South. Proving that the North needing stronger retaliation, moving the movement on faster.
KU - Democrats very committed to advancing slavery and ensuring the slave power conspiracy theory dominated Northern thinking.
H -
Slave power conspiracy Historian
Farmer - “Nevertheless … the idea of slave power conspiracy was an article of faith for all Republicans.”
Collapse of the Whigs
KU/A/A+
KU - After collapse of the Whigs in 1854, rise of new political movements in the North won mass support in 1854 elections, meaning the Whigs ceased to be the main political force.
A - Collapse allowed other parties to rise and gain support, like the Republicans.
A+ - However a lot of new parties also formed. The Whigs sectioned and joined other smaller parties which took attention away from the newly forming Republican Party.
KU - Following the Kansas-Nebraska act, issues of temperance, anti-immigration and anti-Catholicism divided the Whigs.
A - Many of these divided Whigs joined the Republicans, making them more well known and popular in the North.
Collapse of the Whigs Evaluation
In evaluation, the collapse of the Whigs did make the Republicans a larger group, but it’s now as important as the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
McPherson argues “Kansas-Nebraska finished off the Whig party and gave birth to a new entirely Republican Party.”
Kansas-Nebraska Act
KU/A/A+
KU - Following the act, two rival governments were set up. The Lecompton (slavery expansion) and the Topeka (anti slavery) governments. One of Lecompton’s laws made it a capital offence to aid fugitive slaves, and if someone viewed slavery as illegal, they would be imprisoned.
A - Thousands (especially Southerners) were convinced to follow them out of fear. Republicans had opposite views and worked hard to extract these views.
KU - Topeka government drew up a free state constitution and called for a new legislation and governor.
A - Topeka allowed popular sovereignty, giving Northern people a lot more voice.
H -
KU - After Bleeding Kansas, John Brown’s raid took place on the 25th May 1856. Abolitionist raided Southerners cabin with his 4 sons during the nights and killed them as retaliation to previous raids.
A+ - This now led to further tension between the North and South - Republicans blamed for this.
Kansas-Nebraska Act Historian
McPherson - “By January 1856 Kansas has two territorial governments, the official one of Lecompton and an unofficial one at Topeka representing a majority of actual residents.”
Kansas-Nebraska Evaluation
In evaluation, the Kansas-Nebraska act was the most important reason for the emergence of Republicans as Northern newspapers depicted the situation of John Brown’s raid, boosting the Republicans fortunes and making Brown seem like the hero. Gaining them more acknowledgment. The passing of the act certainly provoked “a hell of a storm” argued by McPherson.
