Republican Party | Definition, History, & Beliefs | Britannica

Republican Party, one of the two major political parties, alongside the Democratic Party, in the United States. Also known as the Grand Old Party, or GOP, ... RepublicanParty Sections&Media Article Introduction&TopQuestionsHistoryPolicyandstructure FastFacts 2-MinSummary Facts&RelatedContent Media Videos Images AdditionalInfo MoreArticlesOnThisTopic AdditionalReading Contributors ArticleHistory Home Politics,Law&Government Politics&PoliticalSystems RepublicanParty politicalparty,UnitedStates[1854-present] Alternatetitles:Anti-NebraskaDemocraticParty,GOP,GrandOldParty,People’sParty Print print Print Pleaseselectwhichsectionsyouwouldliketoprint: TableOfContents Cite verifiedCite Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies. Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions. SelectCitationStyle MLA APA ChicagoManualofStyle CopyCitation Share Share Sharetosocialmedia Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Republican-Party More GiveFeedback ExternalWebsites Feedback Corrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin). FeedbackType Selectatype(Required) FactualCorrection Spelling/GrammarCorrection LinkCorrection AdditionalInformation Other YourFeedback SubmitFeedback Thankyouforyourfeedback Oureditorswillreviewwhatyou’vesubmittedanddeterminewhethertorevisethearticle. JoinBritannica'sPublishingPartnerProgramandourcommunityofexpertstogainaglobalaudienceforyourwork! ExternalWebsites PublicBroadcastingService-AmericanExperience-TheFederalistandtheRepublicanParty OhioHistoryCentral-RepublicanParty BritannicaWebsites ArticlesfromBritannicaEncyclopediasforelementaryandhighschoolstudents. RepublicanParty-Children'sEncyclopedia(Ages8-11) RepublicanParty-StudentEncyclopedia(Ages11andup) By TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannica | ViewEditHistory FastFacts 2-MinSummary RepublicanPartypin Seeallmedia Date: 1854-present ...(Showmore) AreasOfInvolvement: conservatism capitalism laissez-faire right ...(Showmore) RelatedPeople: AnnaElizabethDickinson RuthHannaMcCormickSimms JosephMedill KateChaseSprague AbrahamLincoln ...(Showmore) Seeallrelatedcontent→ TopQuestionsWhatistheRepublicanParty?TheRepublicanPartyisapoliticalpartyintheUnitedStatesfoundedin1854.Theparty’sfirstelectedU.S.presidentwasAbrahamLincoln,whotookofficein1861.WhatdoestheRepublicanPartystandfor?TheRepublicanPartywasinitiallycreatedtoadvocateforafree-marketeconomythatcounteredtheDemocraticParty’sagrarianleaningsandsupportofslavelabour.Inrecenthistory,theRepublicanshavebeenaffiliatedwithreducingtaxestostimulatetheeconomy,deregulation,andconservativesocialvalues.WhyisanelephantthesymboloftheRepublicanParty?BoththeDemocraticParty’sdonkeyandtheRepublicanParty’selephantsymbolswerepopularizedbysatiricalcomicsdrawnbyThomasNastfrom1862to1886.TheuseofanimalimagerywasmeantasametaphortocompareAmericanpoliticstoacircus.WhovotesforRepublicans?Duringthe2018congressionalelections,exitpollsshowedthatwhite,male,andnon-college-educatedvotersweremorelikelytovoteforRepublicancandidatesovertheirDemocraticcounterparts.BlackvoterswerethedemographicleastlikelytovoteRepublican.WhichRepublicanpresidentinspiredtheteddybear?TheodoreRoosevelt,aRepublicanU.S.presidentfrom1901to1909,inspiredtheteddybearwhenherefusedtoshootatied-upbearonahuntingtrip.ThestoryreachedtoymakerMorrisMichtom,whodecidedtomakestuffedbearsasadedicationtoRoosevelt.ThenamecomesfromRoosevelt’snickname,Teddy.FollowEisenhower'spathtobecometheRepublicannomineeintheUnitedStatespresidentialelectionof1952Scenesfromthe1952RepublicanNationalConvention,inwhichSenatorRobertA.TaftandGeneralDwightD.Eisenhowerweretheleadingcandidatesforthepresidentialnomination.EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc.SeeallvideosforthisarticleRepublicanParty,bynameGrandOldParty(GOP),intheUnitedStates,oneofthetwomajorpoliticalparties,theotherbeingtheDemocraticParty.Duringthe19thcenturytheRepublicanPartystoodagainsttheextensionofslaverytothecountry’snewterritoriesand,ultimately,forslavery’scompleteabolition.Duringthe20thand21stcenturiesthepartycametobeassociatedwithlaissez-fairecapitalism,lowtaxes,andconservativesocialpolicies.ThepartyacquiredtheacronymGOP,widelyunderstoodas“GrandOldParty,”inthe1870s.Theparty’sofficiallogo,theelephant,isderivedfromacartoonbyThomasNastandalsodatesfromthe1870s. History ThetermRepublicanwasadoptedin1792bysupportersofThomasJefferson,whofavouredadecentralizedgovernmentwithlimitedpowers.AlthoughJefferson’spoliticalphilosophyisconsistentwiththeoutlookofthemodernRepublicanParty,hisfaction,whichsoonbecameknownastheDemocratic-RepublicanParty,ironicallyevolvedbythe1830sintotheDemocraticParty,themodernRepublicanParty’schiefrival. TheRepublicanPartytracesitsrootstothe1850s,whenantislaveryleaders(includingformermembersoftheDemocratic,Whig,andFree-Soilparties)joinedforcestoopposetheextensionofslaveryintotheKansasandNebraskaterritoriesbytheproposedKansas-NebraskaAct.AtmeetingsinRipon,Wisconsin(May1854),andJackson,Michigan(July1854),theyrecommendedforminganewparty,whichwasdulyestablishedatthepoliticalconventioninJackson. Attheirfirstpresidentialnominatingconventionin1856,theRepublicansnominatedJohnC.FrémontonaplatformthatcalledonCongresstoabolishslaveryintheterritories,reflectingawidelyheldviewintheNorth.Althoughultimatelyunsuccessfulinhispresidentialbid,Frémontcarried11Northernstatesandreceivednearlytwo-fifthsoftheelectoralvote.Duringthefirstfouryearsofitsexistence,thepartyrapidlydisplacedtheWhigsasthemainoppositiontothedominantDemocraticParty.In1860theDemocratssplitovertheslaveryissue,astheNorthernandSouthernwingsofthepartynominateddifferentcandidates(StephenA.DouglasandJohnC.Breckinridge,respectively);theelectionthatyearalsoincludedJohnBell,thenomineeoftheConstitutionalUnionParty.Thus,theRepublicancandidate,AbrahamLincoln,wasabletocapturethepresidency,winning18Northernstatesandreceiving60percentoftheelectoralvotebutonly40percentofthepopularvote.BythetimeofLincoln’sinaugurationaspresident,however,sevenSouthernstateshadsecededfromtheUnion,andthecountrysoondescendedintotheAmericanCivilWar(1861–65).1860U.S.presidentialelectioncartoonCartoonofthe1860U.S.presidentialelectionshowingthreeofthecandidates—(lefttoright)RepublicanAbrahamLincoln,NorthernDemocratStephenA.Douglas,andSouthernDemocratJohnC.Breckinridge—tearingthecountryapartwhiletheConstitutionalUnioncandidate,JohnBell,appliesgluefromatinyuselesspot.LibraryofCongress,Washington,D.C.AbrahamLincolnAbrahamLincoln,photographbyAlexanderGardner,1863.LibraryofCongress,Washington,D.C.(Digitalfileno.3a53289) In1863LincolnsignedtheEmancipationProclamation,whichdeclaredslavesinrebellingstatestobe“foreverfree”andwelcomedthemtojointheUnion’sarmedforces.Theabolitionofslaverywould,in1865,beformallyentrenchedintheConstitutionoftheUnitedStateswiththeadoptionoftheThirteenthAmendment.BecausethehistoricalroleplayedbyLincolnandtheRepublicanPartyintheabolitionofslaverycametoberegardedastheirgreatestlegacy,theRepublicanPartyissometimesreferredtoasthepartyofLincoln. TheprolongedagonyoftheCivilWarweakenedLincoln’sprospectsforreelectionin1864.Tobroadenhissupport,hechoseashisvicepresidentialcandidateAndrewJohnson,apro-UnionDemocraticsenatorfromTennessee,andtheLincoln-JohnsonticketsubsequentlywonalandslidevictoryoverDemocratGeorgeB.McClellanandhisrunningmateGeorgePendleton.FollowingLincoln’sassassinationattheendofthewar,JohnsonfavouredLincoln’smoderateprogramfortheReconstructionoftheSouthoverthemorepunitiveplanbackedbytheRadicalRepublicanmembersofCongress.StymiedforatimebyJohnson’svetoes,theRadicalRepublicanswonoverwhelmingcontrolofCongressinthe1866electionsandengineeredJohnson’simpeachmentintheHouseofRepresentatives.AlthoughtheSenatefellonevoteshortofconvictingandremovingJohnson,theRadicalRepublicansmanagedtoimplementtheirReconstructionprogram,whichmadethepartyanathemaacrosstheformerConfederacy.IntheNorththeparty’scloseidentificationwiththeUnionvictorysecuredittheallegianceofmostfarmers,anditssupportofprotectivetariffsandoftheinterestsofbigbusinesseventuallygaineditthebackingofpowerfulindustrialandfinancialcircles.AbrahamLincolnandAndrewJohnsonCampaignbannerforAbrahamLincolnandAndrewJohnson,1864.LibraryofCongress,Washington,D.C.(ppmsca19255)AbrahamLincoln:inaugurationTheinaugurationofAbrahamLincolnasU.S.president,Washington,D.C.,March4,1861.LibraryofCongress,Washington,D.C. The1860electionistodayregardedbymostpoliticalobserversasthefirstofthree“critical”electionsintheUnitedStates—conteststhatproducedsharpandenduringchangesinpartyloyaltiesacrossthecountry(althoughsomeanalystsconsidertheelectionof1824tobethefirstcriticalelection).After1860theDemocraticandRepublicanpartiesbecamethemajorpartiesinalargelytwo-partysystem.Infederalelectionsfromthe1870stothe1890s,thepartieswereinroughbalance—exceptintheSouth,whichbecamesolidlyDemocratic.ThetwopartiescontrolledCongressforalmostequalperiods,thoughtheDemocratsheldthepresidencyonlyduringthetwotermsofGroverCleveland(1885–89and1893–97). Inthecountry’ssecondcriticalelection,in1896,theRepublicanswonthepresidencyandcontrolofbothhousesofCongress,andtheRepublicanPartybecamethemajoritypartyinmoststatesoutsidetheSouth.TheRepublicanpresidentialnomineethatyearwasWilliamMcKinley,aconservativewhofavouredhightariffsonforeigngoodsand“sound”moneytiedtothevalueofgold.TheDemocrats,alreadyburdenedbytheeconomicdepressionthatbeganunderPresidentCleveland,nominatedWilliamJenningsBryan,whoadvocatedcheapmoney(moneyavailableatlowinterestrates)basedonbothgoldandsilver.McKinleycampaignribbonPresidentialcampaignribbonforWilliamMcKinley,c.1896.Americana/EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc. TheassassinationofPresidentMcKinleyin1901elevatedtothepresidencyTheodoreRoosevelt,leaderoftheparty’sprogressivewing.Rooseveltopposedmonopolisticandexploitativebusinesspractices,adoptedamoreconciliatoryattitudetowardlabour,andurgedtheconservationofnaturalresources.Hewasreelectedin1904butdeclinedtorunin1908,deferringtohissecretaryofwarandfriend,WilliamHowardTaft,whowonhandily.SubsequentlydisenchantedwithTaft’sconservativepolicies,RooseveltunsuccessfullychallengedhimfortheRepublicannominationin1912.RooseveltthenboltedtheRepublicanPartytoformtheProgressiveParty(BullMooseParty)andranforpresidentagainstTaftandtheDemocraticcandidate,WoodrowWilson.WiththeRepublicanvotedivided,Wilsonwonthepresidency,andhewasreelectedin1916.Duringthespectacularprosperityofthe1920s,theRepublicans’conservativeandprobusinesspoliciesprovedmoreattractivetovotersthanWilson’sbrandofidealismandinternationalism.TheRepublicanseasilywonthepresidentialelectionsof1920,1924,and1928.TheodoreRoosevelt:campaignbuttonCampaignbuttonforTheodoreRoosevelt,c.1900.Americana/EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc. Thestockmarketcrashof1929andtheGreatDepressionthatfollowedhadsevereconsequencesfortheRepublicans,largelybecauseoftheirunwillingnesstocombattheeffectsofthedepressionthroughdirectgovernmentinterventionintheeconomy.Intheelectionof1932,consideredthecountry’sthirdcriticalelection,RepublicanincumbentPres.HerbertHooverwasoverwhelminglydefeatedbyDemocratFranklinD.Roosevelt,andtheRepublicanswererelegatedtothestatusofaminorityparty.Roosevelt’sthreereelections(hewastheonlypresidenttoservemorethantwoterms),thesuccessionofHarryS.TrumantothepresidencyonRoosevelt’sdeathin1945,andTruman’snarrowelectionoverNewYorkGov.ThomasE.Deweyin1948kepttheRepublicansoutoftheWhiteHousefortwodecades.AlthoughmostRepublicansinthe1930svehementlyopposedRoosevelt’sNewDealsocialprograms,bythe1950sthepartyhadlargelyacceptedthefederalgovernment’sexpandedroleandregulatorypowers.Hoover,HerbertButtonfromHerbertHoover's1928U.S.presidentialcampaign.EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc. In1952theRepublicanPartynominatedasitspresidentialcandidateWorldWarIISupremeAlliedCommanderDwightD.Eisenhower,whoeasilydefeatedDemocratAdlaiE.Stevensoninthegeneralelection.DespiteEisenhower’scentristviews,theRepublicanplatformwasessentiallyconservative,callingforastronganticommuniststanceinforeignaffairs,reductionsingovernmentregulationoftheeconomy,lowertaxesforthewealthy,andresistancetofederalcivilrightslegislation.Nevertheless,EisenhowerdiddispatchfederaltroopstoArkansasin1957toenforcethecourt-orderedracialintegrationofahighschoolinLittleRock;healsosignedtheCivilRightsActsof1957and1960.Moreover,his“moderateRepublicanism”ledhimtooverseeanexpansionofsocialsecurity,anincreaseintheminimumwage,andthecreationoftheDepartmentofHealth,Education,andWelfare.Eisenhower,DwightD.DwightD.Eisenhower,alongwithRichardNixon(left)andArthurSummerfield,athiscampaignheadquartersinWashington,D.C.,September1952.EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc. Intheearly1950sSen.JosephMcCarthyofWisconsinbecametheparty’smostardentanticommunist,takingthelimelightwhileattemptingtoexposecommunistswhoheclaimedwereintheAmericangovernment.Intheinterestofpartyunity,EisenhowerchosenottocriticizeMcCarthy’sdemagogicred-baitingandoccasionallyappearedtosupporthim;privately,however,thepresidentdidnothidehisenmityforMcCarthy,workedtodiscredithim,andpushedRepublicansenatorstocensurehim. Thepartyretainedthetraditionalsupportofbothbigandsmallbusinessandgainednewsupportfromgrowingnumbersofmiddle-classsuburbanitesand—perhapsmostsignificantly—whiteSoutherners,whowereupsetbytheprointegrationpoliciesofleadingDemocrats,includingPresidentTruman,whohadorderedtheintegrationofthemilitary.Eisenhowerwasreelectedin1956,butin1960RichardM.Nixon,Eisenhower’svicepresident,lostnarrowlytoDemocratJohnF.Kennedy. TheRepublicanswereinsevereturmoilattheir1964convention,wheremoderatesandconservativesbattledforcontroloftheparty.Ultimately,theconservativessecuredthenominationofSen.BarryM.Goldwater,wholostbyalandslidetoPres.LyndonB.Johnson,Kennedy’svicepresidentandsuccessor.By1968theparty’smoderatefactionregainedcontrolandagainnominatedNixon,whonarrowlywonthepopularvoteoverHubertH.Humphrey,Johnson’svicepresident.ManySouthernDemocratsabandonedtheDemocraticPartytovotefortheanti-integrationcandidateGeorgeC.Wallace.Importantly,the1964and1968electionssignaledthedeathoftheDemocratic“SolidSouth,”asbothGoldwaterandNixonmadesignificantinroadsthere.In1964,5ofthe6stateswonbyGoldwaterwereintheSouth;in1968,11SouthernstatesvotedforNixonandonly1votedforHumphrey.RichardM.NixonandGeraldFordRichardM.Nixon(right)acceptingtheRepublicanParty'sU.S.presidentialnominationin1968.AtleftisGeraldFord,theRepublicanleaderoftheHouseofRepresentatives.APImages AlthoughNixonwasreelectedbyalandslidein1972,Republicansmadefewgainsincongressional,state,andlocalelectionsandfailedtowincontrolofCongress.InthewakeoftheWatergatescandal,NixonresignedthepresidencyinAugust1974andwassucceededinofficebyGeraldR.Ford,thefirstappointedvicepresidenttobecomepresident.FordlostnarrowlytoSouthernDemocratJimmyCarterin1976.In1980RonaldW.Reagan,thecharismaticleaderoftheRepublicanParty’sconservativewing,defeatedCarterandhelpedtheRepublicanstoregaincontroloftheSenate,whichtheyhelduntil1987. ReaganintroduceddeeptaxcutsandlaunchedamassivebuildupofU.S.militaryforces.Hispersonalpopularityandaneconomicrecoverycontributedtohis49-statevictoryoverDemocratWalterF.Mondalein1984.Hisvicepresident,GeorgeH.W.Bush,continuedtheRepublicans’presidentialsuccessbyhandilydefeatingDemocratMichaelS.Dukakisin1988.DuringBush’sterm,theColdWarcametoanendaftercommunismcollapsedintheSovietUnionandeasternEurope.In1991BushledaninternationalcoalitionthatdroveIraqiarmiesoutofKuwaitinthePersianGulfWar.CongresscontinuedtobecontrolledbytheDemocrats,however,andBushlosthisbidforreelectionin1992toanotherSouthernDemocrat,BillClinton.PartlybecauseofClinton’sdecliningpopularityin1993–94,theRepublicanswonvictoriesinthe1994midtermelectionsthatgavethemcontrolofbothhousesofCongressforthefirsttimesince1954.Theypromptlyundertookeffortstooverhaulthecountry’swelfaresystemandtoreducethebudgetdeficit,buttheiruncompromisingandconfrontationalstyleledmanyvoterstoblamethemforabudgetimpassein1995–96thatresultedintwopartialgovernmentshutdowns.Clintonwasreelectedin1996,thoughtheRepublicansretainedcontrolofCongress.OperationDesertShield:ThanksgivingdinnerU.S.Pres.GeorgeH.W.BusheatingThanksgivingdinnerwithtroopsinSaudiArabiaduringOperationDesertShield,1990.NationalArchives,Washington,D.C. In2000TexasGov.GeorgeW.Bush,sonoftheformerpresident,recapturedthepresidencyfortheRepublicans,receiving500,000fewerpopularvotesthanDemocratAlGorebutnarrowlywinningamajorityoftheelectoralvote(271–266)aftertheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStatesorderedahalttothemanualrecountingofdisputedballotsinFlorida.Bushwasonlythesecondsonofapresidenttoassumethenation’shighestoffice.TheRepublicansalsowonamajorityinbothchambersofCongress(thoughtheDemocratsgainedeffectivecontroloftheSenatein2001followingthedecisionofRepublicanSen.JimJeffordsofVermonttobecameanindependent).AsurgeinBush’spopularityfollowingtheSeptember11attacksof2001enabledtheRepublicanstorecapturetheSenateandtomakegainsintheHouseofRepresentativesin2002.In2004Bushwasnarrowlyreelected,winningboththepopularandelectoralvote,andtheRepublicanskeptcontrolofbothhousesofCongress.Inthe2006midtermelections,however,theRepublicansfaredpoorly,hinderedlargelybythegrowingoppositiontotheIraqWar,andtheDemocratsregainedcontrolofboththeHouseandtheSenate.Inthegeneralelectionof2008theRepublicanpresidentialnominee,JohnMcCain,wasdefeatedbyDemocratBarackObama,andtheDemocratsincreasedtheirmajorityinbothhousesofCongress.ThefollowingyeartheRepublicanNationalCommitteeelectedMichaelSteeleasitsfirstAfricanAmericanchairman.U.S.Pres.GeorgeW.Bushdeliveringthe2002StateoftheUnionaddress,inwhichhedescribedIraq,Iran,andNorthKoreaasan“axisofevil.”EricDraper/WhiteHouse Withagainofsome60seats,aswingnotregisteredsince1948,RepublicansrecapturedcontroloftheHouseanddramaticallyreducedtheDemocrats’majorityintheSenateinthe2010midtermelection.Theelection,whichwaswidelyseenasareferendumontheObamaadministration’spolicyagenda,wasmarkedbyanxietyoverthestrugglingeconomy(especiallythehighunemploymentrate)andbytheupsurgeoftheTeaParty—apopulistmovementwhoseadherentsgenerallyopposedexcessivetaxationand“big”government.TeaPartycandidates,someofwhomhaddisplacedcandidatesfavouredbytheRepublicanestablishmentduringtheprimaries,hadmixedsuccessinthegeneralelection.TeaPartyrally,Sacramento,CaliforniaATeaPartyrallyinSacramento,California,September12,2010.SteveYeater/AP Inthe2012generalelection,theRepublicanpresidentialnomineeMittRomneywasunabletounseatObama.ThesituationinCongressremainedrelativelyunchanged,withRepublicansretainingtheirholdontheHouseofRepresentativesandDemocratssuccessfullydefendingtheirmajorityintheSenate.TheRepublicansregainedcontroloftheSenateduringthe2014midtermelections. The2016presidentialelectionwasawatershedmomentfortheRepublicanParty.Theparty’snominationwascapturedbybusinessmanandtelevisionpersonalityDonaldTrump,whoeasilydefeatedmore-mainstreamRepublicancandidatessuchasJebBushandTedCruzintheprimaries.Trump’sfar-rightsocialpositionsandoutspokenhostilitytowardimmigrantsmadeanumberofmainstreamRepublicansconcernedthathewassettingthepartyupforaGoldwater-esquelandslideelectoraldefeat.But,tothesurpriseofmostpoliticalpundits,hewontheelectoralcollegedespiteamassingalmostthreemillionfewerpopularvotesthanDemocratHillaryClinton,givingRepublicansthepresidencyforthefirsttimeineightyearstogoalongsidetheparty’sretentionofpowerinbothchambersofCongress.Trumpcontinuedtodefypoliticalnormsaftertakingoffice,andhispresidencywasplaguedbycontroversy,especiallyallegationsthathiscampaignhadcolludedwithRussiatosecurehiselection.AlthoughheenjoyedsolidsupportamongRepublicans,somebelievedthathewascausingirreparableharmtotheparty.Hisoverallapprovalratingsweretypicallylow,andinthe2018midtermsDemocratsretookcontroloftheHouse.DonaldTrumpDonaldTrumpspeakingatarallyinHershey,Pennsylvania,amonthafterwinningthe2016U.S.presidentialelection.EvanVucci/APImages LoadNextPage