What's A Republican? Wednesdays: Rebuilding America

After the Civil War and the assassination of President Lincoln, the country was crying out for leadership. President Andrew Johnson took over the Presidency after Lincoln's death and oversaw the four years after the Civil War known as the Reconstruction Era. As President, Johnson drew the ire of Radical Republicans (opposed slavery during the war and demanded harsh Reconstruction policies afterward because of their deep distrust of the former Confederate states) because he wanted former Confederate states quickly reincorporated back into the union and he vetoed several civil rights bills. Due to these actions, the U.S. House charged him with violating the Tenure of Office Act in 1868; however, the Senate acquitted him by a single vote.

At the 1868 Republican National Convention, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant unanimously won the nomination for his party's Presidential candidate. He won the White House later that same fall and worked diligently to preserve the hard won fragile peace and cooperation between the North and the South. He signed and enforced civil rights laws and fought against the Klu Klux Klan. He built and strengthened the Republican Party in the South, which led to the election of African Americans to Congress and state governments for the first time in American history.

However, the Grant administration was plagued with scandal due to Grant's low standards for Cabinet Members. Grant was also criticized for his slow response to several economic issues during his tenure.

Despite these problems, at the 1872 Republican National Convention, Grant was re-nominated as the Republican Party's candidate for President. At the same convention several planks were added to the party platform. The ninth new plank addressed the income tax enacted during Lincoln's tenure in the White House to pay for the country's debts incurred during the Civil War. It stated:

"All tariff and internal taxation needed for the reduction of the public debt and for the support of the government should be so adjusted as to bear with least weight upon the laboring classes, and to foster and encourage the industries of the nation, which are the foundation of all national prosperity."

However, despite the official end of the Civil War seven years prior, and Grant's successes as President, the 1872 election was contentious. In fighting started in the Republican party and those who were once friends became foes, like Horace Greeley. Greeley was a staunch and loyal Republican from its inception until the 1872 Presidential election when he ran as President under the Democrat's banner.

Other well known Republicans at the time challenged the Republican Party's support of the 14th and 15th amendments, calling them abominations and outright contradictions to the spirit of the U.S. Constitution.

But it wasn't just Republican's turning on Republicans - Southern Democrats killed hundreds of Republicans, burned their homes and destroyed their property during the 1872 Presidential election campaign. Despite the apparent chaos in the Republican party and attacks on Republicans by Southern Democrats, Grant won re-election almost unanimously.

The Republican Party maintained control of the White House and dictated many of the reforms necessary during the post-war era from 1864 until 1884. During this time Republicans found support primarily from Northern farmers, factory workers, and businessmen. However, it was also at this time when many people began to view the Republicans as the party of the upper class because Republican leaders were often wealthier businessmen, and the party's actions tended to favor business over farming.

Also by 1884 the party was rife with conflict and scandal; consequently, in 1884 the reform-minded Republicans helped elect conservative Democrat Grover Cleveland to the White House. Although Republican Benjamin Harrison defeated Cleveland in 1888, Cleveland won the White House back in 1892.

This American flag design was popular during the Civil War until the late 1800s.

Come back next week for another installment of What's A Republican? Wednesdays.