Birth of the Republican party

Ch 10 Sect 3

Pg 318

Slavery Divides the Whigs General Winfield Scott became the Pres.

Nominee for the Whig Party. Scott owed this to the Northern Whigs who

opposed the Fugitive Slave Act. Southern Whigs backed the Compromise of

1850. Whigs lost the election. The party took opposing views on the Kansas-

Nebraska Act as well. Southern Whigs looked for a proslavery, pro-

union party to join.

Nativism American Party Believed in Nativism – the favoring of native

born Americans over immigrants. “I Know Nothing” Became known as the Know-Nothing Party. Middle class, protestants, believed there was a

conspiracy to overthrow the Democracy. Split over slavery Southerners looked for an alternative to the

Democrats. Northerners turned to the Republican Party.

Liberty Party

Abolitionist party, very small Purpose- to pursue the cause of abolition

by passing new laws.

Free-Soil Party

Northerners were Free-Soilers w/o being abolitionists.

Supported laws prohibiting black settlement in white communities & denying blacks the right to vote.

Objected to slavery b/c of its impact on white labor.

Convinced that a conspiracy existed to spread slavery throughout the U.S.

Republican Party

Northern Whigs, antislavery Democrats, & Free-Soilers formed the new Republican Party.

Founder was Horace Greeley Opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act Wanted to resurrect the Missouri Compromise Primary competition was the Know-Nothing Party b/c

same target voters Sack of Lawrence, Pottawatomie Massacre, “Bleeding

Kansas” gave the Republicans ammunition to challenge the Democrats

Election of 1856 Republicans chose John Fremont

Mapped the Oregon trail & led troops in CA during the war w/ Mexico

Know-Nothings split Northerners – Fremont Southerners – nominated Millard Fillmore

Democrats nominated James Buchanan He had been out of the country during the

controversy over the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Did not anger the north or the south. Only truly national candidate Won the election

Answer these questions

1. How did the slavery issue affect the Whig party?

2. What was nativism and how did it affect American politics?

3. What did the Free-Soil Party believe in?

4. What issue united people in the Republican Party?

5. What were the issues and outcome of the Election of 1856?