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The Birth of the Republican Party. Chapter 10 Section 3. I New Political Parties Emerge A. Slavery Divides Whigs. Whig party is divided Northern “conscious” Whigs = antislavery Southern “cotton” Whigs= pro slavery
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The Birth of the Republican Party Chapter 10 Section 3
I New Political Parties EmergeA. Slavery Divides Whigs • Whig party is divided • Northern “conscious” Whigs = antislavery • Southern “cotton” Whigs= pro slavery • Whigs nominate Winfield who owed nomination to the conscious whigscotton Whig vote falling • Allows Dem. Pierce to win election
Kansas-Nebraska Act furthered the Whig split because conscious and cotton Whigs took opposing positions • No Nat'l platformS faction creating a pro slavery party while N Whigs look for their own pol. alternative
B. Nativism • American Party appears as alternative • Roots in secret org. known as the “Know-nothings” • Americans frightened by the sharp increase of im.nativism • The favoring of native born ppl over im.
Middle class protestants of Amer. Feared catholic influence • Fear of the “papal power” rested on belief that Cath. Threatened Democracy because the church held Pope as ultimate authority • American party formed by nativists became known as the Know-Nothings • Instructed to say they no nothing about their secret order (Star Bangled banner society) Why would nativists support longer naturalization periods for immigrants?
II Antislavery parties Form • One forerunner of the Republican Party (Liberty Party) formed to pursue antislavery laws • Another forerunner (Free-Soil Party) opposed extension of slavery
A. The Free-Soil Voice • Opposition was not necessarily based on good intentions towards African Americans • Some N were Free-Soilers w/o supporting abolition • Some supported racist laws settling in their com. And denying right to vote
Free-Soilers mainly objected slavery’s competition w/ free white workers • Believed extension of slavery threatened free labor system that the N depended on
B. Republican Party • Opponents of slavery in the terr. Met and created the Republican Party • Unite under opp. To slavery in the terr. • As the party grew it took in Northerners form other parties that fell apart • Farmers, abolitionists, manufacturers • Ability to attract diverse group of ppl allowed them to compete w/ other parties
C. Election of 1856 • Republicans chooses free-soiler John C. Freemont • Know-nothings split endorsement between Freemont & former Whig pres. Fillmore • Dem. Nominate Buchanan of Penn • Northerner but had mostly S support and was not around for Kansas-Nebraska debate
Dem. James Buchanan’s victory makes clear 3 things • Dem learn they could win w/ N candidate who didn’t alienate the S • Know-Nothings, Like Whigs, were in decline • Republicans were a pol. Force in the N