The Indiana People's Party was a short-lived

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

political party in the state of

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

. It participated in the United States House of Representatives election of 1854, and continued to function until 1860, when it merged into the Republican Party.Formation of Indiana's Republican Party 1854-1860
Government of Indiana The party attracted former Democrats and Whigs who were opposed to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which extended slavery in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

Foundation

Henry S. Lane Henry Smith Lane (February 24, 1811 – June 19, 1881) was a United States representative, Senator, and the 13th Governor of Indiana; he was by design the shortest-serving Governor of Indiana, having made plans to resign the office should his ...

was essential in organizing the People's Party in Indiana. Lane's influence over the older Whigs brought most into the People's Party, while abolitionists joined because of the anti-Kansas-Nebraska Act platform. Lane also helped to convince many Democrats and

Know-Nothings The Know Nothing party was a nativist political party and movement in the United States in the mid-1850s. The party was officially known as the "Native American Party" prior to 1855 and thereafter, it was simply known as the "American Party". ...

who were opposed to slavery extension to join the People's Party. In 1854, the young Indiana party was more conservative than the national Republican Party. The People's Party resisted adopting the name "Republican" because of its association with the eastern abolition movement that many Hoosiers saw as too radical. In 1856, Lane chaired the People's Party Convention in

Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...

and the

Republican National Convention The Republican National Convention (RNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1856 by the United States Republican Party. They are administered by the Republican National Committee. The goal of the Repu ...

in Philadelphia.

Merging into the Republican Party

Between 1856 and 1860, the Indiana People's Party platform conformed to the national Republican platform and also became known as the Republican Party.

Members of Congress

U.S. Senators

None

U.S. Representatives

Indiana's 3rd congressional district Indiana's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. Based in Fort Wayne, the district takes in the northeastern part of the state. In 2023, this district will include all of Adams, Allen, Blackford, ...

- George G. Dunn (1855-1857) *

Indiana's 4th congressional district Indiana's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. From 2003 to 2013 the district was based primarily in the central part of the state, and consisted of all of Boone, Clinton, Hendricks, Morgan, ...

- William Cumback (1855-1857) *

Indiana's 5th congressional district Indiana's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana that takes the north side of Indianapolis as well as its eastern and northern suburbs, including Marion, Carmel, Anderson, Noblesville, Fishers, ...

- David P. Holloway (1855-1857) *

Indiana's 6th congressional district Indiana's 6th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. The district takes in a portion of eastern and central Indiana as of the 2020 census, including Columbus and Richmond, as well as a few suburbs of bot ...

Lucien Barbour Lucien Barbour (March 4, 1811 – July 19, 1880) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1855 to 1857. Biography Born in Canton, Connecticut, Barbour was graduated from Amherst Col ...

(1855-1857) *

Indiana's 7th congressional district Indiana's 7th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. It is entirely located within Marion County and includes most of Indianapolis, except for the north side, which is represented by the 5th District. ...

Harvey D. Scott Harvey David Scott (October 18, 1818 – July 11, 1891) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1855 to 1857. Scott was the father of rhetoricia ...

(1855-1857) *

Indiana's 8th congressional district Indiana's 8th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. Based in Southwestern Indiana, southwest and west central Indiana, the district is anchored in Evansville, Indiana, Evansville and also includes Jas ...

- Daniel Mace (1855-1857) *

Indiana's 9th congressional district Indiana's 9th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. Located in south-central and southeastern Indiana, the district stretches from the south suburbs of Indianapolis to the Indiana side of the Louisvill ...

Schuyler Colfax Schuyler Colfax Jr. (; March 23, 1823 – January 13, 1885) was an American journalist, businessman, and politician who served as the 17th vice president of the United States from 1869 to 1873, and prior to that as the 25th speaker of the House ...

(1855-1869) * Indiana's 10th congressional district-

Samuel Brenton Samuel Brenton (November 22, 1810 – March 29, 1857) was a U.S. Representative from Indiana; born in Gallatin County, Kentucky. Attended the public schools; was ordained to the Methodist ministry in 1830 and served as a minister; located at Danv ...

(1855-1857) * Indiana's 11th congressional district- John U. Pettit (1855-1861)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:People's Party (United States, 1854-1860) Political parties established in 1854 Defunct political parties in the United States Politics of Indiana Political parties disestablished in 1860 1854 establishments in Indiana 1860 disestablishments in Indiana