Let's Review Our American Republican Heritage

What?  You didn't learn this in school?

Let's start on March 20, 1854. A few dozen anti-slavery activists, both men and women meet in Ripon, Wisconsin and founded the Republican Party in an attempt to stop the Democrats' pro-slavery agenda. The party spread across the northern and western U.S. like a prairie fire of freedom.

By the election of 1860, Republicans had gained the Presidency under Abraham Lincoln and had majorities in both the House and the Senate. In addition, the Governor of every northern state was a Republican.

The Republican Party was so successful then as it is now because it is dedicated to the notion that all men and women are bestowed by God with the inalienable rights of liberty and equality.

With that control of the Federal government and with FIERCE DEMOCRAT OPPOSITION (sound familiar), the Republican congress and President passed constitutional amendments banning slavery, extending the Bill of Rights to the states, guaranteeing equal protection of the laws and due process to all citizens, and extending the right to vote to persons of all races and backgrounds.

The Republicans in Congress also enacted the nation's first-ever Civil Rights Act, extending citizenship and equal rights to people of all races, colors, and creeds and providing equal rights of access to all public accommodations. However the Supreme Court struck down the legislation eight years later. It wouldn't be until 1964 that this act would be reborn.

Republicans also fought for women's rights, with Susan B. Anthony bragging that she voted the straight Republican ticket when she voted illegally in 1872.

Republican Senator Aaron Sargent wrote the women's suffrage amendment in 1878 but it could not get passed in Congress until Republicans again won control of both houses 40 years later.

Democratic opposition to Republican civil rights efforts lasted through Reconstruction and beyond. The most bitter Democrats in the south founded the Ku Klux Klan as a terror wing of the Democrat Party.

Every African-American in Congress was a Republican through 1935.

1954 marked the beginning of the modern Civil Rights movement with the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court Decision. The decision was written by Chief Justice Earl Warren, 3-term Republican Governor of California and appointee of Republican Dwight Eisenhower.

Republican President Eisenhower then passed the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1957. This was followed by the 1960 Civil Rights Act authored by Republican Everett Dirksen. And, Republicans overwhelmingly supported the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

The 1964 Civil Rights Act only became law after Republican votes broke a Democrat filibuster that sought to never allow the act to be voted on.

In 1965, Republican appointed judge Frank Johnson over rules Democrat Governor George Wallace allowing Martin Luther King, Jr.'s protest march from Selma to Montgomery to proceed.

In the 1980's Ronald Reagan ushered in a whole new way of thinking about the economics of the country (drawing on the sucesses of prior tax cutting Presidents Calvin Coolidge and John Kennedy) by reducing taxes on individuals to give them the freedom to spend their money they way they saw fit. This ushered in historic economic growth and prosperity for all Americans.

In 1996 the Republican House of Representatives passed legislation to reform welfare to help more out of work citizens get the job training and other services they need to become independent earners. After Democrat vetoes 2 times, it was finally signed into law under great pressure from Republicans.

And today, President George W. Bush has nominated more minorities to high level leadership positions than any President in the history of the United States. And the Democrats still resist these nominations as they always have historically.

In Afghanistan, President George W. Bush's policies led to the freeing of millions of people and the new government now allows women to vote there for the first time in the history of the country.

In 2004 Africa-American Republican Secretary of Education, Rod Paige and Republican President George W. Bush signed into law the DC School Choice Incentive Act to provide scholarships to low-income students in under performing schools as a means for them to attend better private schools. 60% of African-Americans support this type of school choice, yet the Democrats again opposed it.

And in the year 2000 under the leadership and vision of Harry Eicher, the Beach Cities Republican Club was chartered with the vision of providing a forum for great Republican leaders to communicate their message to voters. The BCRC remains committed to encouraging Republicans to become more actively involved in helping elect Republicans dedicated to the history and ideals of our Grand Ol' Party.

In 2002, club president, James Crean, works with Republican artist Fenton Eng to design the surfing elephant BCRC logo. Also that year, the Southern California Republican Coalition is formed to help build a donor base to support local volunteer operations and local candidates for office. And in 2008 the Peninsula Harbor Republicans is formed to provide a means for interested Republicans in San Pedro and the Palos Verdes Peninsula join a growing movement of Republicans to be better organized, more focused on issues that unite us, and to ensure freedom is delivered to citizens here at home.