the republican party emerged in 1854 to combat the kansas–nebraska act and the expansion of slavery into american territories. the early republican party consisted of african-americans, northern white protestants, businessmen, professionals, factory workers, and farmers. the gop was pro-business, and it supported banks, the gold standard, railroads and high tariffs; the party opposed the expansion of slavery. at its inception, republican party had almost no presence in the southern united states; by 1858, however it had enlisted former whigs and former free soil democrats to form majorities in nearly every northern state.