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At different political stages Stevens was active in different parties—always the minority party until the 1860s. During the last years of the [[First Party System]] he was a [[Federalist Party|Federalist]] in the [[Second Party System]], he started with the [[Anti-Masonic Party]], then switched to the [[Whig Party]]. When the [[Third Party System]] began in the 1850s he helped found the new [[Republican Party]] in Pennsylvania. He devoted his enormous energies to the destruction of what he considered the [[Slave Power]], that is the conspiracy he saw of slave owners to seize control of the federal government and block the progress of liberty.  In 1848 he was elected as a Whig to the U.S. House of Representatives. where he soon displayed unusual leadership qualities by a combination of energy, attention to detail, and profound commitment to [[Republican Party#Third Party System: 1854-1894|the principles of the Republican Party]].  He defended minorities, such as Indians, Adventists, Mormons, Jews, Chinese, and women. He concentrated his greatest efforts on helping slaves (especially runaways) and working to destroy the system that denied them rights.

At different political stages Stevens was active in different parties—always the minority party until the 1860s. During the last years of the [[First Party System]] he was a [[Federalist Party|Federalist]] in the [[Second Party System]], he started with the [[Anti-Masonic Party]], then switched to the [[Whig Party]]. When the [[Third Party System]] began in the 1850s he helped found the new [[Republican Party]] in Pennsylvania. He devoted his enormous energies to the destruction of what he considered the [[Slave Power]], that is the conspiracy he saw of slave owners to seize control of the federal government and block the progress of liberty.  In 1848 he was elected as a Whig to the U.S. House of Representatives. where he soon displayed unusual leadership qualities by a combination of energy, attention to detail, and profound commitment to [[Republican Party#Third Party System: 1854-1894|the principles of the Republican Party]].  He defended minorities, such as Indians, Adventists, Mormons, Jews, Chinese, and women. He concentrated his greatest efforts on helping slaves (especially runaways) and working to destroy the system that denied them rights.

Stevens believed in the constitutional (as well as biblical) principle of [[separation of church and state]], and opposed religiously motivated discrimination. In ''Specht v. Commonwealth'', he defended a cooper who was fined for hauling manure on a Sunday in violation of Pennsylvania's blue law,<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Thaddeus_Stevens/OKq8EaomNzkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=thaddeus+stevens+sunday+law+separation+of+church+and+state&pg=PA258&printsec=frontcover Trefousse], p. 258.</ref> arguing that it infringed upon "the rights of conscience."<ref>Volk, Kyle G. (2014). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Moral_Minorities_and_the_Making_of_Ameri/NTGTAwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=thaddeus+stevens+sunday+law&pg=PA60&printsec=frontcover Moral Minorities and the Making of American Democracy], pp. 60–63. ''Google Books''. Retrieved January 22, 2023.</ref> Stevens went as far to imply that a nation whose judiciary failed to protect religious minorities from Sunday laws would be shaped by the very attitudes of the mob which crucified Jesus.

Stevens believed in the constitutional (as well as biblical) principle of [[separation of church and state]], and opposed religiously motivated discrimination. In ''Specht v. Commonwealth'', he defended a cooper who was fined for hauling manure on a Sunday in violation of Pennsylvania's blue law,<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Thaddeus_Stevens/OKq8EaomNzkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=thaddeus+stevens+sunday+law+separation+of+church+and+state&pg=PA258&printsec=frontcover Trefousse], p. 258.</ref> arguing that it infringed upon "the rights of conscience."<ref>Volk, Kyle G. (2014). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Moral_Minorities_and_the_Making_of_Ameri/NTGTAwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=thaddeus+stevens+sunday+law&pg=PA60&printsec=frontcover Moral Minorities and the Making of American Democracy], pp. 60–63. ''Google Books''. Retrieved January 22, 2023.</ref> Stevens went as far to imply that a nation whose judiciary failed to protect religious minorities from Sunday laws would be shaped by the very attitudes of the mob which crucified Jesus.

During the Civil War Stevens was one of the three or four most powerful men in Congress, using his slashing oratorical powers, his chairmanship of the Committee on Ways and Means (which set taxes), and above all his single-minded devotion to victory. As a member of the critical "Joint Committee on Reconstruction" his power grew during [[Reconstruction]] as he dominated the House and helped to draft both the Fourteenth Amendment and the [[Reconstruction Act]] in 1867.

During the Civil War Stevens was one of the three or four most powerful men in Congress, using his slashing oratorical powers, his chairmanship of the Committee on Ways and Means (which set taxes), and above all his single-minded devotion to victory. As a member of the critical "Joint Committee on Reconstruction" his power grew during [[Reconstruction]] as he dominated the House and helped to draft both the Fourteenth Amendment and the [[Reconstruction Act]] in 1867.

Stevens was one of two Congressmen in July 1861 opposing the [[Crittenden-Johnson Resolution]] stating the limited war aim of restoring the Union while preserving slavery; he helped repeal it in December. In August, 1861, he supported the first law attacking slavery, the Confiscation Act, which said owners would forfeit any slaves they allowed to help the Confederate war effort. By December, he was the first Congressional leader pushing for emancipation as a tool to weaken the rebellion. He called for total war on January 22, 1862:  

Stevens was one of two Congressmen in July 1861 opposing the [[Crittenden-Johnson Resolution]] stating the limited war aim of restoring the Union while preserving slavery; he helped repeal it in December. In August, 1861, he supported the first law attacking slavery, the Confiscation Act, which said owners would forfeit any slaves they allowed to help the Confederate war effort. By December, he was the first Congressional leader pushing for emancipation as a tool to weaken the rebellion. He called for total war on January 22, 1862:  

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