| Backgrounder: U.S. Republican Party or GOP |
| Last Updated(Beijing Time):2012-10-23 11:27 |
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The following is a brief introduction to the U.S. Republican Party or GOP.
Along with the Democratic Party, the Republican Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. The party was founded in 1854 by anti-slavery activists and individuals who believed that government should grant western lands to settlers free of charge.
The name "Republican" was chosen because it alluded to equality and reminded individuals of Thomas Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party. In 1860, it came to power for the first time with the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency.
Of the two major U.S. parties, the Republican Party is the moderate/center-right party and supports a conservative platform.
The term "Grand Old Party" is a traditional nickname for the Republican Party, and the initialism "GOP" is a commonly used designation. The traditional mascot of the party is the elephant. |
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