By Harry Freemantle

The Republican Party often referred to as the Grand Old Party (GOP) was founded March 20 1854 by most notably, Alvan E Bovay and Henry J Raymond and became the main rival to the Democratic Party which then dominated into a two party state to present day.

The Republican Party was formed as an anti-slavery party who opposed the Kansas-Nebraska policy that expanded slavery across the United States with their main objective to abolish slavery.

The first election the party entered was the 1856 election with John C Fremont and despite losing to James Buchanan, Fremont was able to achieve 114 electoral votes 33.1% of the popular vote.

Following James Buchanan’s disastrous term in office, leaving the US the most divided the nation has been since its inception, candidate Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 election taking 180 electoral vote and 39.7% of the popular vote.

Since then notable US Republican Presidents include Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

From early days, the Republicans always believed in freedom.

Calvin Coolidge was quoted: “I want the people of America to be able to work less for the government and more for themselves. I want them to have the rewards of their own industry. This is the chief meaning of freedom.

Until we can reestablish a condition under which the earnings of the people can be kept by the people, we are bound to suffer a very severe and distinct curtailment of our liberty.”

Fast forward to the present day on the 60th presidential election the Republican Party candidate Donald Trump hopes to win a second term in office following his defeat in 2020 against Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden.

Donald Trump speech during his first presidential election campaign

The current Republican Party believes in freedom against the “radical left”, economic growth and maintaining national security.

The main demographic of modern day Republican voters include people that live in rural areas of the country, men, far right fanatics, white and Christians.

General issues the Republican Party advocate for are strong and strict border control, anti-immigration, their support on the war against drugs and opposing the legalisation of marijuana, strongly against gun control, voter ID at elections.

In terms of foreign affairs, the Republicans are against the support of Ukraine voting against supplying arms to the nation with the idea of peace in Europe, Taiwan would be protected at all costs against China, and in 2024 although the Republicans would support Israel against Hamas, support is dwindling within the party.

Donald Trump famously stated: “We will make America strong again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again. And we will make America great again.”