<P> The first anti-Nebraska local meeting where Republican was suggested as a name for a new anti-slavery party was held in a Ripon , Wisconsin schoolhouse on March 20 , 1854 . The first statewide convention that formed a platform and nominated candidates under the name Republican was held near Jackson , Michigan on July 6 , 1854 . It declared their new party opposed to the expansion of slavery into new territories and selected a statewide slate of candidates . The Midwest took the lead in forming state party tickets while the eastern states lagged a year or so . There were no efforts to organize the party in the South , apart from St. Louis and a few areas adjacent to free states . The party initially had its base in the Northeast and Midwest . </P>
<P> The first anti-Nebraska local meeting where Republican was suggested as a name for a new anti-slavery party was held in a Ripon , Wisconsin schoolhouse on March 20 , 1854 . The first statewide convention that formed a platform and nominated candidates under the name Republican was held near Jackson , Michigan on July 6 , 1854 . It declared their new party opposed to the expansion of slavery into new territories and selected a statewide slate of candidates . The Midwest took the lead in forming state party tickets while the eastern states lagged a year or so . There were no efforts to organize the party in the South , apart from St. Louis and a few areas adjacent to free states . The party initially had its base in the Northeast and Midwest . </P>
when did the republican party gain support in the north and midwest
when did the republican party gain support in the north and midwest
1854
1854