Changes

====Establishing a competitive state GOP====

====Establishing a competitive state GOP====

[[File:Schuyler colfax.jpg|thumb|left]]

[[File:Schuyler colfax.jpg|thumb|left|160px]]

The Whig Party over time collapsed over internal disputes, unable to reconcile between the Northern abolitionists and Southern pro-slavery forces. Along with a small number of Jacksonian Democrats who opposed slavery in addition to the [[populist]], anti-immigration "Know Nothing" movement, they were sought out by Colfax to form the new Republican Party.<ref name=ussenatebio/> Colfax himself shared some viewpoints of the Know Nothings in resenting Catholic immigrants, who at the time often attacked other minorities ruthlessly.

The Whig Party over time collapsed over internal disputes, unable to reconcile between the Northern abolitionists and Southern pro-slavery forces. Along with a small number of Jacksonian Democrats who opposed slavery in addition to the [[populist]], anti-immigration "Know Nothing" movement, they were sought out by Colfax to form the new Republican Party.<ref name=ussenatebio/> Colfax himself shared some viewpoints of the Know Nothings in resenting Catholic immigrants, who at the time often attacked other minorities ruthlessly.