Why did the Republican Party form?

Question

because of the desire of many to abolish slavery

because people were outraged about the Dred Scott decision

because southerners feared the government would abolish slavery

because many people believed in popular sovereignty

Answer 1

All of the above reasons contributed to the formation of the Republican Party. The party was established in 1854 with the main goal of opposing the extension of slavery into new western territories. Many Northerners, including abolitionists, were dissatisfied with the existing political parties and believed that a new party was needed to address the issue of slavery. The outrage over the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision in 1857, which declared that slaves were property and not citizens, further fueled the formation of the Republican Party. Southerners also played a role as they feared that the federal government might eventually abolish slavery, leading to their support for the party. Additionally, the idea of popular sovereignty, which allowed the residents of a territory to decide whether to allow slavery or not, was embraced by many Republicans.