The political party founded in 1854 as an anti-slavery party was the Republican Party.

Formed in response to the growing tensions over slavery in the United States, the Republican Party aimed to oppose the expansion of slavery into new territories and states. It attracted former members of the Whig Party, Free Soilers, and anti-slavery Democrats. The party quickly gained prominence and played a crucial role in the political landscape leading up to the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, was elected in 1860, further solidifying the party’s influence.