In 1854, the Republican Party held its first convention under a canopy of oaks
Born out of a desperate struggle to stop the expansion of slavery, the Republican Party officially formed during a massive outdoor rally in Michigan that the local hall simply could not contain.
On July 6, 1854, thousands of activists gathered in Jackson, Michigan, to launch a new political movement dedicated to halting the spread of slavery. The crowd was so unexpectedly large that they had to abandon the local town hall and move to a nearby grove of oak trees. Under this natural canopy, they officially adopted the name 'Republican' and established their first platform.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz