Examines the struggles of the Republican Party as it attempted to deal with the defeated South while maintaining its hold on the White House, and discusses the rise of machine politics and administrations from Grant to McKinley.
The Republican Party was founded in 1854 to abolish slavery. Abraham Lincoln was its first president. After the Civil War, as the Democratic Party foundered, party platforms shifted back and forth with the Republicans and Democrats battling over reconstruction of the South, civil rights, political corruption, and the power of big business over immigrants and the working poor.
The Republican Party was founded in 1854 to abolish slavery. Abraham Lincoln was its first president. After the Civil War, as the Democratic Party foundered, party platforms shifted back and forth with the Republicans and Democrats battling over reconstruction of the South, civil rights, political corruption, and the power of big business over immigrants and the working poor.