History

SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE(Explain details about the rise of the Republican Party.)(Compare and contrast the Republican Party of 1854 with today's party.)The Republican Party was born out of opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. People from the Democratic and Whig parties who opposed the expansion of slavery joined forces to start a new political party. Because America was founded on the principles of a republic, the founding members adopted the name Republican, which was originally used by Thomas Jefferson.Included in the first party platform was an emphasis on business, education, and the idea of providing free land to farmers as an enticement to move out West. The new party denounced slavery from an economic and moral standpoint.Its first presidential candidate was John Fremont, in 1856. Although Fremont lost the election, the Republican Party proved to have a popular base among voters. Abraham Lincoln was its second candidate. When the Democratic Party experienced a severe split prior to the election of 1860, Lincoln was elected president.Gathering Background InformationThe newly formed Republican Party in 1854 was very popular among voters of the time. Its emphasis on education, business, and farming, coupled with its stand on slavery, proved to be a winning combination for the average American.Take some time to learn about the current Republican Party platform and then consider the following question: Does the current state of the Republican Party address the needs of the average American as it was intended to in 1854?As you are reading, use the following chart to help record your research between the two platforms.