The American party system had been dominated by Whigs and Democrats for decades leading up to the Civil War. But the Whig party's … See more

The election of William McKinley in 1896 marked a resurgence of Republican dominance and was a realigning election. The GOP now had a decisive advantage nationwide and in the industrial states; the Democrats were left with the Solid South and mixed … See more

Historian George H. Nash argues:
Unlike the "moderate," internationalist, largely eastern bloc of Republicans who accepted (or at least … See more

After the election of Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1992, the Republican Party, led by House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich campaigning on a "Contract with America", were elected to … See more

Civil War
The election of Lincoln as president in 1860 opened a new era of Republican dominance based in the industrial North and agricultural … See more

The Reagan Revolution
Ronald Reagan was elected president in the 1980 election by a landslide electoral vote, though he only … See more

George W. Bush, son of George H. W. Bush, won the 2000 Republican presidential nomination over Arizona Senator See more