1856 Republican National Convention

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== 1856 Republican National Convention ==

The 1856 Republican National Convention was the first national convention of the Republican Party, held from June 17 to June 19, 1856, at the Musical Fund Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The convention was organized to select the party's candidates for President and Vice President in the 1856 United States presidential election.

Background

The Republican Party was founded in 1854 in response to the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed for the potential expansion of slavery into the western territories. The party was formed by anti-slavery activists, former Whigs, and Free Soilers who opposed the spread of slavery.

Proceedings

The convention was attended by 600 delegates from various states. Robert Emmet of New York served as the temporary chairman, and Henry S. Lane of Indiana was elected as the permanent chairman.

Presidential Nomination

The main candidates for the presidential nomination were:

• John C. Frémont of California
• William H. Seward of New York
• Salmon P. Chase of Ohio
• Charles Sumner of Massachusetts

On the first ballot, John C. Frémont received a majority of the votes and was nominated as the Republican candidate for President. Frémont was a former Army officer and explorer, known as "The Pathfinder" for his expeditions in the American West.

Vice Presidential Nomination

For the vice-presidential nomination, the main candidates were:

• William L. Dayton of New Jersey
• Abraham Lincoln of Illinois
• Nathaniel P. Banks of Massachusetts

William L. Dayton was nominated for Vice President on the first ballot. Dayton was a former United States Senator and a prominent anti-slavery advocate.

Platform

The platform adopted by the convention emphasized the following key points:

• Opposition to the expansion of slavery into the territories
• Support for the admission of Kansas as a free state
• Advocacy for internal improvements, including the construction of a transcontinental railroad
• Support for the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution

Aftermath

The Republican ticket of John C. Frémont and William L. Dayton faced off against the Democratic ticket of James Buchanan and John C. Breckinridge, as well as the American Party ticket of Millard Fillmore and Andrew Jackson Donelson. Although Frémont and Dayton did not win the election, the Republican Party established itself as a major political force in the United States.

Related Pages

• Republican Party (United States)
• 1856 United States presidential election
• John C. Frémont
• William L. Dayton
• Kansas-Nebraska Act
• Whig Party (United States)
• Free Soil Party