Dbq Republican Party

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The Republican Party, or the Grand Old Party (GOP) is one of two prominent political factions within the American bipartisan system. It was founded upon the Revolution-era value of republicanism, or the idea that the constituents of a state should hold popular sovereignty.

Ironically, the ideals of the Republican Party were vastly different at the debut of its founding. It was founded in 1854 as an anti-slavery party, and became an adversary to the Democratic party as well as the then-existing “Know Nothing” party. The party formed out of a need to vehemently oppose the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which would override the Missouri Compromise and allow slavery further up north. In 1860, the party officially came to power with Abraham Lincoln
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These factions were based around the level of government involvement a party member believed should take place in various affairs, particularly in business matters. Thus, the more conservative spectrum of the party, or those who believed in looser control of business and other affairs, were often opposed to the ideals and sentiments of the progressive side, who felt that the government should have some influence in different subjects. The opposition between progressives and conservatives continued until 1912, which brought the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt and the subsequent divorce of progressive members from the larger party. Further shifts into conservatism occurred with the adaption of progressive ideals by Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the gaining of southern white constituents disillusioned with the government push for Civil Rights in 1964. By the 21st century, the vast majority of the Republican Party consisted of conservatives – essentially appearing as it does …show more content…
As it stands, the Republican Party and its candidates often take on ideals and personas that push modern-day conservative ideas to the extreme – such as the deregulation of guns in the United States, and the refusal to raise taxes for the affluent in order to offset costs for the working class. But in some respects, the Republican party also holds positions that essentially call for expanded government regulation in social and personal affairs – for instance, reversing Roe v. Wade (which would make pregnancy abortion illegal in all cases), or removing the rights of LGBTQ+ citizens in the United States. To many outside the party, these ideals seem almost alarming and calloused towards the prosperity of the nation, and are a clear contrast to the ideas that built the party during the era of the Civil War – thus, the negative implications that surround Republicans and their top