What does GOP stand for, in connection with the Republican Party in America?
It is often referred to as the Grand Old Party. It is the younger of the two major U.S. political parties, and the second oldest active political party in the United States. Founded in 1854 by anti-slavery expansion activists and modernizers, the Republican Party rose to prominence with the election of Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president. The party presided over the American Civil War and Reconstruction and was harried by internal factions and scandals towards the end of the 19th century. Today, the Republican Party supports a pro-business platform, with further foundations in economic libertarianism and a brand of social conservatism considered by some to be increasingly based on the viewpoints of the Religious Right.
