National Union Party (United States)

The National Union Party was a political party in the United States. It was made by supporters of President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War. Most people who joined the new party were Republicans, but some Democrats and Constitutional Unionists also joined. Lincoln was the party's candidate in the 1864 United States presidential election. Vice President Andrew Johnson became the second (and last) National Union Party president after Lincoln's assassination.

Lincoln became the first Republican president after winning the 1860 United States presidential election. His victory led 11 slave states to secede from the United States and become the Confederate States of America. Many people in the Union thought the old political parties were to blame for the war. Lincoln's supporters named their new party the Union Party to show support for their country. The new name helped supporters from different parties work together to win the 1864 election. The name also made people who did not join the party seem like enemies of the Union.

After the war, the National Union Party broke up. Most Unionists became Republicans, while some joined the Democratic Party. The Republican Party was sometimes called the "Union Republican Party" during the late 1800s.

References


 Further reading
Donald, David (1995). Lincoln, pp. 516–544 online
Johnson, David (2012). Decided on the Battlefield: Grant, Sherman, Lincoln and the Election of 1864. 
Nevins, Allan (1971). The War for the Union: The Organized War to Victory, 1864–1865.  pp 97–143.
Nicolay, John G. and John Hay (1890). Abraham Lincoln: A History. vol 9. ch. 3, 15 and 16.
 McSeveney, Samuel T. (1986). "Re-Electing Lincoln: The Union Party Campaign and the Military Vote in Connecticut". Civil War History. 32(2). pp. 139–158.
Waugh, John C. (2001). Reelecting Lincoln: The Battle for the 1864 Presidency. online
 Wilson, Charles R. (1936) "New Light on the Lincoln-Blair-Fremont 'Bargain' of 1864" American Historical Review 42#1 pp. 71–78. online
Zornow, William Frank (1954). Lincoln and the Party Divided. online

Category:1864 establishments in the United States
Category:1868 disestablishments
Category:Abraham Lincoln
Category:American Civil War
Category:Political parties in the United States