National Republican Party (United States)

The National Republican Party was a United States political party that existed for a relatively brief period in the 1820s at the start of the Second Party System.

Before John Quincy Adams's presidency the original Republican Party, which had been the only truly national American political party for over a decade, began to dissolve, losing its infrastructure and identity. Its caucuses no longer met to select candidates. Politicians who supported Adams became known as the National Republicans, while others supported Andrew Jackson were called "Jackson Men" and would later form the Democratic Party. In the 1828 election, Adams won 43.63% of the popular vote, and 83 out of 261 electoral votes. The National Republicans ran Henry Clay against Andrew Jackson in the election of 1832, and Clay's loss convinced Jackson that the people had given him a mandate to abolish the Bank of the United States. Clay won 37.42% of the popular vote, and 49 out of 288 electoral votes.

After the election of 1832, the National Republican party fell apart. It was not a direct predecessor of the current Republican Party, although many of its supporters later joined that group. In the short term, many of its members joined the Whig Party.

Candidates

John Q. Adams/Richard Rush - 1828 (lost)

Henry Clay/John Sergeant - 1832 (lost)

See also: List of political parties in the United Statesde:National Republican Party