the republican party launched its first national convention in pittsburgh, pennsylvania on february 22, 1856. the convention elected a governing national executive committee and passed resolutions calling for the repeal of laws enabling slaveholding in free territories and "resistance by constitutional means of slavery in any territory," defense of anti-slavery individuals in kansas who were coming under physical attack, and a call to "resist and overthrow the present national administration" of franklin pierce, "as it is identified with the progress of the slave power to national supremacy." its first national nominating convention held in the summer in philadelphia, pennsylvania. john c. frémont ran as the first republican nominee for president in 1856 behind the slogan "free soil, free silver, free men, frémont and victory!" although frémont's bid was unsuccessful, the party showed a strong base. it dominated in new england, new york and the northern midwest and had a strong presence in the rest of the north. it had almost no support in the south, where it was roundly denounced in 1856–1860 as a divisive force that threatened civil war.