REPUBLICAN HISTORY
1854: Founding Principles
In 1854, one of the primary motivations behind the establishment of the Republican Party was the acknowledgment of the importance of black lives.
As the anti-slavery party, the Republican Party, under the leadership of the first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln, brought an end to slavery.
Since then, the Grand Old Party (GOP) has centered its core principles around the value that all lives matter and are entitled to inalienable rights. It identifies itself as the party advocating for freedom, liberty, civil rights, and embraces the principles of free markets, economic growth, and upward mobility. Republicans uphold the notion of a nation governed by laws rather than individuals, asserting that law and order are imperative for peace, stability, and the provision of education necessary for economic progress and upward mobility.
The Republican Party often faces distortions of its principles and historical facts by political adversaries and the media, seeking to counter such misrepresentations.
Emphasizing a commitment to ideas rather than identity groups, Republicans echo the sentiments of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., advocating that individuals should be evaluated based on the content of their character, not the color of their skin.
Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by Union General and future President Ulysses S. Grant (in 1868 and 1872), played a pivotal role in emancipating the slaves.
Tragically, President Lincoln fell victim to an assassin's bullet on April 14th, 1865, at the hands of John Wilkes Booth, an actor and Confederate spy. Lincoln's assassination occurred merely three days after he delivered a speech promoting voting rights for black citizens. His death marked the first of three Republican presidents assassinated within 36 years.
Following Lincoln's assassination, Andrew Johnson, a Democrat, who opposed the 14th Amendment granting citizenship to freed slaves, assumed the presidency as Lincoln's vice president. It was during Johnson's presidency that the Ku Klux Klan was formed.
TIMELINE: LINCOLN THROUGH 1876 ELECTION
Lincoln presidency: March 4th 1861 - April 14th, 1865
January 31st, 1865: Congress passes 13th amendment abolishing slavery
April 9th, 1865: End of Civil War
April 11th, 1865: Confederate spy John Wilkes Booth listens to Lincoln speech promoting voting rights for blacks.
April 14th, 1865: President Lincoln assassinated by Booth
April 15th, 1865: Democrat Andrew Johnson becomes president
December 6th, 1865: 13th Amendment ratified; slavery abolished.
December 24th, 1865: Ku Klux Klan formed by democrats in Pulaski TN
June 14th, 1866: Congress passes 14th amendment to give citizenship to freed slaves. Democrat president Johnson opposes 14th amendment.
July 9th, 1868: 14th amendment ratified.
November 3rd, 1868: Lincoln's Union general, republican Ulysses S Grant elected president
February 26th, 1869: Congress passes 15th amendment, to give freed African Americans right to vote
February 3rd, 1870: 15th amendment ratified
July 1st, 1870: Department of Justice created with primary intent to prosecute acts committed by democrat formed KKK
November 17th, 1871: National Rifle Association (NRA) formed with primary intent to arm freed slaves to defend themselves against democrat KKK
1872: Republican president Grant re-elected.
The election of 1876 stands as one of history's most contested elections. Republican Rutherford B. Hayes secured victory by a single electoral vote (185-184), a result facilitated by the Compromise of 1877. Democrats conceded 20 disputed electoral votes from three states, including Florida, and one vote from Oregon to Hayes. In exchange, federal troops were withdrawn from the South, formally marking the end of the Reconstruction era. However, this unintended consequence empowered Democrats to enact Jim Crow laws, leading to a period of racial segregation and discrimination.
POST RECONSTRUCTION
Jim Crow, not an actual individual but a representation of a bumbling and foolish slave from the early 19th century, became associated with the implementation of laws by Democrats in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These Jim Crow laws aimed at imposing racial segregation and undermining the political and economic advancements made by Black communities during the Reconstruction era. Tactics included measures such as poll taxes, literacy requirements, and election manipulation to suppress Black and Republican votes and candidates.
As per Wiki, the Jim Crow laws established systematic economic, educational, and social disadvantages for African Americans residing in the Southern United States. Notably, between 1860 and 1928, only two Democrats—Grover Cleveland (1884 - NY) and Woodrow Wilson (1912 - NJ)—secured the presidency for a single term each, amidst Republican presidential dominance.
This Republican era coincided with the Second Industrial Revolution (2ndIR) from approximately 1870 to 1914, introducing numerous modern manufacturing techniques and technological innovations.
The resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in 1915, centered at Stone Mountain, GA, near Atlanta—a city without a Republican mayor since 1879—marked a significant rise in Klan membership. This surge culminated in the 1924 Democrat convention mockingly termed a 'Klanbake.' The presidential victory in that election went to Calvin Coolidge, a Massachusetts Republican.
While Republicans held sway in presidential elections, bolstered by support from new Western states, Democrats gradually gained ground in Northern states while retaining their stronghold in the South. Presently, urban areas in the North primarily lean Democrat, contrasting with typically Republican-dominated suburbs.
TWENTIETH CENTURY & CIVIL RIGHTS
The Republican Party has a historical connection to civil rights, evident in both the women's suffrage movement (19th Amendment) and the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, wherein a higher percentage of Republicans supported these initiatives compared to Democrats.
During women's suffrage, there were repeated votes between January 1918 and June 1919. Despite opposition from southern Democrats, the amendment received support from 37 Republican Senators and 19 Democrats after Democrats ceased a filibuster. Ultimately, 76% of Republican Senators voted in favor, while 60% of Democrat Senators opposed it.
In the case of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, 80% of Republicans voted affirmatively (138-34) compared to 60% of Democrats (152-96). Notably, figures like Al Gore Sr., father of Bill Clinton's vice president, and Democrat Robert Byrd, the last known KKK member in Congress whom Hillary Clinton revered as a mentor after his passing in 2010, voted against this act.
Understanding the historical background of the Republican and Democratic parties is crucial in contemporary contexts. Rod Serling's poignant words in "The Obsolete Man" resonate: "This is not a new world. It is simply an extension of what began in the old one." His narration warns about ideologies like Socialism, Communism, Fascism, and Marxism, which stand in opposition to Republican and American principles, advocating a path that threatens human freedom and truth.
1964 - 2016
After the enactment of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Republican President Richard M. Nixon endorsed Title IX in 1972, which aimed to prevent discrimination but effectively broadened opportunities for girls in athletics at high school and college levels.
There has been a historical agreement across party lines regarding the success of Nixon's foreign policy. Many have credited Richard Nixon as an essential figure in paving the way for Ronald Reagan's presidency.
Following the challenging Jimmy Carter administration, the United States experienced an economic resurgence under President Ronald Reagan. Collaborating with Margaret Thatcher, they triumphed over the Soviet Union, effectively concluding the Cold War.
In 1994, Newt Gingrich spearheaded the groundbreaking 'Contract with America' election, securing the Republicans their first House majority in 40 years. Prior to this election, Republicans held majorities in both the House and Senate for only four years between 1933 and 1995.
This Contract drew inspiration from Reagan's 1985 State of the Union speech and policy concepts from the conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation.
The conclusion of the Cold War, coupled with historic Republican majorities resulting from the Reagan Revolution, marked the onset of a tech boom, reminiscent of the Industrial Revolution during Republican dominance in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While the economy thrived, some attribute potential domestic consequences, in part, to Democrat Bill Clinton's foreign policy decisions that, arguably, were not fully appreciated until the tragic events of September 11th, 2001.
CURRENT EVENTS & TRUMP
Donald J. Trump led an era of remarkable economic strength despite the challenges posed by the Obama-Biden Administration. The country faced a stagnant economy burdened by excessive regulations and a doubled national debt, contributing to a decline in America's prosperity. Their foreign policy, focusing on appeasement and unregulated immigration, alongside economic struggles, led to decades of deteriorating cities under Democratic governance.
The well-known events of 2020 are best addressed through conservative principles. Upholding the right to peaceful protest and enforcing law & order as defined by our Constitution is crucial. American innovation, coupled with foundations of peace, stability, strong leadership, and economic prosperity, will steer our nation back on track.
It's no coincidence that cities experiencing rioting, looting, and destruction are under Democratic control, predominantly impacting communities of color. These areas face failing public schools, high crime rates, and similar challenges.
The Democratic Party has evolved but remains fundamentally unchanged, utilizing more refined tactics to maintain control over people of color, particularly African Americans. Drawing parallels between 2020 Democrats and 19th-century Jim Crow Democrats, there's an assertion that modern Democrats utilize tactics similar to past voter fraud to regain power.
Moreover, the Democrats' stance on education, gun control, economic policies, and citizenship issues is compared to historical actions, highlighting the differences between Republican and Democratic approaches. President Trump's policies are emphasized for their support of minority communities, economic growth, and protection against potential voter fraud. The narrative aligns with Republican principles of strength, safety, stability, and individual freedoms, echoing values championed by past Republican leaders since the party’s inception in 1854.
