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, p ...

political party in the state of

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the 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 (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Foundation

Henry S. Lane 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 American Party, known as the Native American Party before 1855 and colloquially referred to as the Know Nothings, or the Know Nothing Party, was an Old Stock nativist political movement in the United States in the 1850s. Members of the m ...

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 List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, 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 Republican Party in the United States. They are administered by the Republican National Committee. The goal o ...

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. This district includes all of Adams, Allen, Blackford, DeKalb, Hun ...

- George G. Dunn (1855-1857) * Indiana's 4th congressional district-

William Cumback William Cumback (March 24, 1829 – July 31, 1905) was an American lawyer and Civil War veteran who served one term as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1855 to 1857. Biography Born near Mount Carmel, Indiana, Cumback attended the commo ...

(1855-1857) *

Indiana's 5th congressional district Indiana's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana comprising Hamilton County, Indiana, Hamilton, Madison County, Indiana, Madison, Delaware County, Indiana, Delaware, Grant County, Indiana, Grant, and ...

- 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, Indiana, Columbus and Richmond, Indiana, Ric ...

- Lucien Barbour (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 southern side, which is located within the 6th distric ...

- Harvey D. Scott (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 Jasp ...

- 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 Louisville ...

Schuyler Colfax Schuyler Colfax Jr. ( ; March 23, 1823January 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 United Sta ...

(1855-1869) * Indiana's 10th congressional district- Samuel Brenton (1855-1857) *

Indiana's 11th congressional district Indiana's 11th congressional district was a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in Indiana. In its final configuration, it covered most of the southern portion of Indianapolis. It was eliminated as a result of t ...

- 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 Political parties in Indiana Political parties disestablished in 1860 1854 establishments in Indiana 1860 disestablishments in Indiana