The Republican Party emerged as a solution to the political turmoil facing the nation. On July 6, 1854, the Republican Party officially established itself. In the 1854 Congressional elections, 44 Republicans were elected as part of the anti-Nebraskan majority in the House, and many Republicans were elected to the Senate and various state houses. The Republican Party expanded throughout the nation and added members and office-holders to its ranks. Republican Senator Charles Sumner delivered an impassioned anti-slavery speech in which he criticized other senators' pro-slavery stands. At the 1860 Republican National Convention, Abraham Lincoln became the Presidential nominee. Three Candidates opposed Lincoln: Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat), John Cabell Breckenridge (Southern Democrat) and John Bell (Constitutional Union Party). Keeping in mind the significance of the Republican Party, Republicans worked to strike death to slavery. In 1863, Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Republican Congress passed the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery.
Party leaders saw the opportunity to broaden the base of the party and adopted the name National Union Party. The Republicans, on the other hand, were soaring. In 1869, blacks finally entered Congress as members of the Republican Party. A split among the Republicans occurred.
