CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
FACT #1: The Republican Party was founded in 1854 as an anti-slavery party. When Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, he was implementing the Confiscation Act, a law that very clearly states that slaves belonging to rebels were free. Every Republican in Congress voted for and every Democrat voted against.
Sources: CNN and CCR
FACT #2: 13th Amendment to the Constitution banning slavery was unanimously voted for by the Republicans, despite fierce opposition from the Democrats. In 1866, Republicans took advantage of their majority in Congress and passed a Civil Rights Act recognizing blacks as US citizens and equal rights to people of all colors, all races and all creeds.
Sources: CCR and NFRW
FACT #3: 14th Amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing equal protection of the laws was a purely Republican achievement, because every single Democrat in Congress voted against it.
Source: CCR
FACT #4: From 1869 to 1935, all Black Congressmen were Republicans.
Source: NFRW
FACT #5: 15th Amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing male Blacks the right to vote. 98% of Republicans voted for it; 97% of the Democrats voted against it.
Source: NFRW
FACT #6: All of the leading suffragists who led the fight for women's voting rights, including Susan B. Anthony, were Republicans. It took from 1878 to 1920 for the women's right to vote to become the law of the land because Republicans did not have majorities in both the House and the Senate at the same time during those years and Democrats kept voting against it.
Source: CCR
FACT #7: The 1960 Civil Rights Act was authored and introduced by Republican US Senator Everett Dirksen of Illinois. It was also he who was most responsible for the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Even though Republicans were in the minority, Dirksen led the charge that overcame long odd and tenacious Democratic opposition. The 1964 Civil Rights was passed with 80% Republican vote to only 61% of Democrats in the House, and 69% Democrats to 82% Republican vote in the Senate. The 1965 Voting Rights Act was passed with 83% of Republicans voting for them and only 67% of Democrats voting for.
Source: www.lincolnheritage.org
FACT #8: Since 1933 in the 26 major civil rights votes, Democrats opposed in over 80% of the votes whereas Republicans favored civil rights in over 96% of the votes.
Source: www.congresslink.org/
