National Union Party (United States)

National Union Party
National Union Party
Founded	1864
Dissolved	1868
Ideology	Unionism

AL1864A

The National Union Party was a temporary name used by the Republican Party for the national ticket in the 1864 United States presidential election. The name was used to attract War Democrats and Unionists who would not vote for the Republican Party. The party supported the re-election of Abraham Lincoln and the continuation of the American Civil War to restore the Union.

History[edit | edit source]

The National Union Party was formed in 1864 during the American Civil War. The primary goal of the party was to create a broader coalition to support the war effort and the re-election of President Abraham Lincoln. The party nominated Lincoln for president and Andrew Johnson, a War Democrat from Tennessee, for vice president. This strategic move was intended to appeal to both Republicans and War Democrats.

The National Union Party's platform was centered on the unconditional surrender of the Confederacy and the abolition of slavery. The party's success in the 1864 election was seen as a mandate to continue the war until the Union was restored.

Dissolution[edit | edit source]

After the assassination of President Lincoln in April 1865, Andrew Johnson became president. Johnson's lenient approach to Reconstruction policies led to a rift with the Radical Republicans. By 1868, the National Union Party had effectively dissolved, and the Republican Party resumed its original name.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

The National Union Party played a crucial role during a pivotal moment in American history. It helped to secure Lincoln's re-election and provided a unified front for the Union war effort. The party's brief existence highlighted the political complexities of the Civil War era and the challenges of post-war Reconstruction.