the first anti-nebraska local meeting where "republican" was suggested as a name for a new anti-slavery party was held in a ripon, wisconsin schoolhouse on march 20, 1854. the first statewide convention that formed a platform and nominated candidates under the republican name was held near jackson, michigan, on july 6, 1854. at that convention, the party opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories and selected a statewide slate of candidates. the midwest took the lead in forming state republican party tickets; apart from st. louis and a few areas adjacent to free states, there were no efforts to organize the party in the southern states.