Prepare for the UCF POS2041 American National Government Exam 3. Study with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Pass your exam with confidence!

The Republican Party emerged from the Whigs, primarily in response to the issues surrounding slavery and its expansion into new territories during the mid-19th century. As the Whig Party began to disintegrate in the early 1850s due to internal conflicts over these issues, a coalition of former Whigs, Free Soilers, anti-slavery Democrats, and abolitionists came together to form the Republican Party in 1854. This new party's platform was fundamentally rooted in opposition to the spread of slavery, and it sought to appeal to a diverse base that included those who were concerned about the moral and political implications of slavery. The Republican Party rapidly gained support, leading to significant political changes in the United States, including the election of Abraham Lincoln as the first Republican president in 1860, signaling a major shift in the American political landscape.