from leftist wiki....
The Republican Party emerged in 1854 to combat the KansasNebraska Act and the expansion of slavery into American territories. The early Republican Party consisted of African-Americans, northern white Protestants, businessmen, professionals, factory workers, and farmers. The GOP was pro-business, and it supported banks, the gold standard, railroads and high tariffs; the party opposed the expansion of slavery.
Good stuff. Makes for a great Republican majority now, right?
:)