Historic RNC FAQs

Republican National Convention Blog NYC 2004

1. Who founded the Republican party?

In 1854 the Kansas Nebraska Act was signed. This was in response to the Missouri Compromise of 1820. The Missouri Compromise legally, geographically and politically divided the United States at the 36 degree, 30ft parallel between The North and The South. In 1854 the Kansas Nebraska Act was signed. It allowed settlers to decide if their states would legally sanction or abolish slavery. To stem the threat of pro-slavery settler's en masse migration across the North-South parallel, Northerners Horace Greeley, Salmon Chase, and Charles Sumner proposed the formation of a new political party. Several meetings were occurring simultaneously around the country; Bangor Maine, Friendship NY, and Washington DC, so some discussion remains to this day as to the actual date of this event, but the facts indicate February 28, 1854 in Ripon Wisconsin [northwest of Milwaukee Wisconsin], as the specific day, date and place the Free Soil Party and the Conscience Whigs [Whig Party Northerners] formed an alliance and held the first proto-Republican Party meeting. March 20, 1854, Ripon Wisconsin resident Alvan E. Bovay and several dozen other Ripon citizens met to disolve the local Whig party. Previously, Bovay had written to New York Tribune editor Horace Greeley to suggest "Republican" as the name for the new party formed by the anti-slavery coalition. The anti-slavery coalition, was now comprised of the Free Soil, Conscience Whigs and Temperance parties. The name "Republican" had been mentioned a number of times around the country for the preceding 20 years. A five member committee was formed at the March 20, 1854 Ripon Wisconsin meetting, but the name "Republican" was not formally adopted for the proposed party at that time. 1:00pm Thursday July 6, 1854, over 3,000 representatives arrived in Jackson Michigan to attend the State Convention. The Free Soil Party was officially desolved [pledging loyalty to the Republicans]and delegates in committee officially changed the name of the anti-slavery coalition to The Republican Party. A 13 plank platform was drawn in committee. 10 of the 13 planks addressed the abolishment of slavery---one specifically calling for the repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law. The delegates also called for economic reform, and nominated the first state Republican ticket. Following the Jackson Michigan State Convention, the Republican Party swept Michigan State elections in November 1854. June 17, 1856 was the first official National Republican Party Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Veteran [a major and a general], Senator, mapmaker, and explorer, 'Pathfinder' John C. Fremont, was nominated as the Republican Party's Standard bearer at the first Republican National Convention. James Buchanan defeated Fremont, who was asked to run again 10 years later. Mr. Fremont respectfully declined the later nomination, fearing it would cause dissent among the party faithful.





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