Unionist Party (United States)
Encyclopedia
The Union Party was a fusion political party conceived by Republicans
in 1861 to combine people of all political affiliations into a single movement committed to the preservation of the Union
and to war
. Republicans wanted to project an image of wartime nonpartisanship and they also expected to capitalize on wartime patriotism to siphon off Democratic
support. Most Democrats, including a significant number willing to tone down their partisan rhetoric, refused to bolt their party altogether to join the Union coalition (the so-called "War Democrats" were the notable exception). After 1862, and for the duration of the war, Republicans and occasionally War Democrats ran against regular Democrats under the Union Party banner. The party became defunct after Reconstruction.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in 1861 to combine people of all political affiliations into a single movement committed to the preservation of the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
and to war
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Republicans wanted to project an image of wartime nonpartisanship and they also expected to capitalize on wartime patriotism to siphon off Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
support. Most Democrats, including a significant number willing to tone down their partisan rhetoric, refused to bolt their party altogether to join the Union coalition (the so-called "War Democrats" were the notable exception). After 1862, and for the duration of the war, Republicans and occasionally War Democrats ran against regular Democrats under the Union Party banner. The party became defunct after Reconstruction.