Discover the Unexpected: Top 12 Fascinating Fun Facts About the Republican Party

1. Birth of the Republican Party

Once upon a time in a land divided, a band of rebels, tired of the Whig Party's dismissal of unforgivable sins, assembled to create a mighty force that would eventually end the dark reign of slavery and gambling–or so legend has it: In reality, the Republican Party was formed in 1854 by a group of individuals dissatisfied with the Whig Party's stance on slavery, with figures like Abraham Lincoln, a former Whig, finding it to be a morally crucial issue. While Ripon, Wisconsin, and Jackson, Michigan, still duke it out as the true birthplace of the party, its creation undeniably played a significant role in American history—you know, the whole abolishing slavery thing and becoming a powerhouse in government affairs for years to come.
Source => chicagotribune.com

2. Elephant Symbol Origin

How does an elephant sneak up on Republicans? In a political cartoon, of course! This sturdy pachyderm tiptoed into Republican symbolism all thanks to a crafty artist's sketch: Thomas Nast, a famous political cartoonist, playfully depicted an elephant labeled "The Republican Vote" spooked by a donkey in a lion's skin back in the 1870s, and the association stuck just as firm as a jolly, rotund elf-man we know as Santa Claus, also conjured by Nast's creative quill.
Source => washingtonpost.com

Did you know that the birth of British politics started with the Whigs and the Tories, two 18th-century factions that evolved into modern political parties? Discover how they influenced today's political landscape!

=> Fun Facts about Political-Parties

3. Political Avengers Against Slavery

Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away - not really, just 1850s America - a band of brave, anti-slavery rebels assembled like a political Avengers; their mission? To fight the evil empire of slavery and protect justice for all: Behold the birth of the Republican Party in 1854, with their first presidential candidate, John C. Frémont, charging into battle, lightsaber of abolition in hand, and although he lost the fight, the force grew stronger, and their legacy continued to thrive.
Source => jstor.org

4. Teddy Roosevelt: Nature's Hero

Before "The Revenant" even had a shot in theatres, Teddy Roosevelt was taking preserving nature to a whole new level: As a Republican President and passionate conservationist, he established 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, four national game preserves, five national parks, and 18 national monuments, protecting over 230 million acres of American land, while also making time for camping trips with John Muir and advocating for the Grand Canyon's protection.
Source => doi.gov

5. Nixon's Banker Invitation

You can bank on Nixon: Surprisingly, it was a banker named H.L. Perry who initially invited President Richard Nixon to run for the Republican ticket in Congress back in 1946, as revealed in a letter tucked away in the Nixon Presidential Library. This invitation not only led to Nixon winning a congressional seat, but also saw him rise to the position of a senator for California, Vice-President under Dwight Eisenhower, and eventually become the 37th President of the United States in 1969.
Source => blankonblank.org

6. Presidential Poker Pot

Playing poker with a president has its perks, especially when you stumble upon White House dinnerware deals: President Warren Harding supposedly gave White House china from Benjamin Harrison's term to socialite Louise Cromwell Brooks during a friendly game of poker, an anecdote which remains popular to this day.
Source => snopes.com

7. Eastwood vs. Empty Chair

When The Man With No Name fought a comical duel against The Chair With No Occupant: Actor Clint Eastwood had quite the showdown with an empty chair at the 2012 Republican National Convention, drawing inspiration from a Neil Diamond song, while endorsing presidential nominee Mitt Romney and critiquing President Obama's leadership.
Source => washingtonpost.com

8. Ending "Keeping Up with Slave Territories"

Once upon a time in a land filled with top hats and monocles, a party was formed to end the tragic reality series of "Keeping Up with the Slave Territories": Behold the inception of the Republican Party in 1854, which would later lay claim to Honest Abe, the great lumberjack-turned-President, as their first leader in 1861.
Source => whitehouse.gov

9. Fremont: Explorer and Presidential Nominee

When John C. Fremont wasn't busy exploring the Wild West, he decided to take a stab at exploring the wild world of presidential elections: in 1856, Fremont became the first-ever Republican Party presidential nominee, wrangling 114 electoral votes and 33.1% of the popular vote.
Source => presidency.ucsb.edu

10. Teddy Roosevelt: Tree-Hugging Peacekeeper

Who said Republicans can't hug trees and stop wars with their bare hands? Teddy Roosevelt begs to differ: As a proud Republican and progressive leader, he championed conservation by creating national parks, forests, and monuments, flexed America's naval muscles with the Great White Fleet, and even won the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize for ending the Russo-Japanese War—all while in office!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Taylor Swift's Political Influence

Swiftly turning the tide of political apathy one melody at a time: Taylor Swift's 2018 endorsement of Democratic candidates led to increased interest in political involvement, but not solely responsible for the recent surge in voter registration among young people.
Source => nytimes.com

12. Lincoln's Beard-Powered Victory

Who needs the South when you've got the power of the beard? Abraham Lincoln and his trusty sidekick Hannibal Hamlin stormed to victory without a scratch of Southern support: In the historic 1860 presidential election, the Republican dynamic duo secured a national electoral majority without appearing on the ballot in ten slave states, and even without winning a single southern electoral vote, they still managed to spark the secession of those same states into the Confederacy.
Source => en.wikipedia.org