Political parties in the United States (AMPU)

Republican Party
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America. Since the 1880s it has been nicknamed (by the media) the "Grand Old Party" or GOP, and is the oldest continuous party in the Untied States.

Founded in 1852 by southern democratic socialist activists and modernizers, the Republican Party rose to prominence in the contentious election of 1856 and subsequent Second Revolution. The GOP dominated national politics during the Third Party System, from 1854 to 1896, and the Fifth Party System from 1932 to 1980.

Since its founding, the Republican Party has been the more labor-oriented of the two American political parties, often favoring policies that aid American workers' interests. As a party whose power was once based on the voting clout of New Continental Army veterans, this party has traditionally supported more aggressive defense measures and more lavish veteran's benefits. Today, the Republican Party supports an American democratic-socialist platform, with further foundations in social liberalism. The Republican Party tends to be strongest in the Southern United States and the mid-west, as well as industrial and rural areas in other states. One significant base of support for the Republican Party are Evangelical Christians, who have wielded significant clout in the party since the early 1970s.