Why is the Republican Party known as GOP or Grand Old Party?

The Republican and Democratic Parties have been around for over a century, and their ideologies have shifted. The Republican Party, also known as the GOP (short for Grand Old Party), was established in Wisconsin in 1854 by several notable figures, including Abraham Lincoln.

The Origins of the GOP

The term GOP first appeared in the 1870s when party members touted the party’s success in the US Civil War. The press also used the term, sometimes taking out grand and replacing it with gallant, to describe the party’s efforts in defeating the Confederacy. The party that predated the Republicans was the Whig Party, and the faction that ended up founding their own party broke away because of their opposition to the expansion of slavery. Interestingly, the party was not that old when the moniker was adopted.

One of the most notable uses of the term in the press came in 1884 after the election of Grover Cleveland, with the Chicago Tribune giving thanks to the GOP for the win as it assured that the country would “resume the onward and upward march.”

The Republican Party is considered the right wing of the US political system, and some of its factions lean towards extreme right-wing ideology. The party’s platform includes social conservatism, which it claims to be based on “God-given liberties” while ensuring opportunities for all Americans. However, some people argue that the separation between Church and state is necessary since not everyone agrees on what rights are ‘God-given’ and whether they should be protected. For instance, the GOP doesn’t consider marriage equality, the right to abortion, and the right to contraception as ‘God-given’ liberties that need protection.

However, recent elections and popular opinion indicate that the public disagrees with this stance and believes that these rights should not be infringed upon.