Southern Reactions to the Republican Party
Southerners were generally hostile to the Republican Party because they viewed it as a threat to their way of life. They feared that the Republicans would seek to abolish slavery and undermine the Southern economy. In addition, many Southerners resented the Republican Party's attacks on the institution of slavery, which they considered to be a legitimate and morally acceptable practice.
The Republican Party's opposition to slavery led to increased tensions between the North and the South. In 1860, the Republican Party candidate, Abraham Lincoln, was elected president. His election was the final straw for many Southerners, who felt that their interests were no longer being represented in the federal government. As a result, eleven Southern states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America.
Northern Reactions to the Republican Party
The Republican Party was generally popular in the North, where there was strong support for the abolition of slavery. Northerners viewed the Republican Party as a champion of their values and as a means of ending the institution of slavery. The Republican Party's success in the 1860 presidential election was a major victory for the anti-slavery movement and helped to pave the way for the emancipation of slaves during the Civil War.
The Republican Party remained a dominant force in Northern politics after the Civil War. The party continued to support policies that promoted the equality of African Americans and the expansion of civil rights. However, the Republican Party also faced challenges from within its own ranks, as some members of the party were opposed to granting full equality to African Americans. Despite these challenges, the Republican Party remained the dominant political party in the North for much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.