Radical Democracy Party (United States)
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Radical Democracy Party
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| Founded | May 1864 |
| Dissolved | September 1864 |
| Preceded by | 'Radical' faction of the Republican Party |
| Newspaper | New Nation |
| Ideology |
Abolitionism American unionism Hardline reconstructionism Pro-civil liberties Pro-political reform |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| International affiliation | none |
The Radical Democracy Party was an abolitionist and anti-Confederate political party in the United States. The party was formed to contest the 1864 Presidential election. The party was made up largely of disaffected radical Republicans who felt that President Abraham Lincoln was too moderate on the issues of slavery and racial equality. John C. Frémont was nominated as the party's presidential candidate, with John Cochrane as his running mate. However their campaign failed to gain momentum. Not wanting to act as no more than a spoiler against Lincoln, they withdrew from the race in September.
The new party convened in Chapin’s Hall in Cleveland, Ohio on at the end of May 1864, one week before the Republican convention. Different estimates were given on the number of attendees, ranging from 200 to 2,000. Often the number given depended on the political leanings of those making the estimate. As well as radical Republicans, there were also a number of Democrats who were unhappy with their own party’s perceived lack of dedication to the war against the Confederacy. Noted abolitionist and previous Republican presidential candidate John C. Frémont was nominated for president, while the ‘War Democrat’ John Cochrane was nominated as Vice President. Among the notable figures who attended or supported the Convention were Frederick Douglass, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Parker Pillsbury. Abolitionist Wendell Phillips did not attend in person but wrote a letter on behalf of the new organisation which was read out. In it he criticised Lincoln’s model of reconstruction, citing the experience of Louisiana following its recapture by Union forces. He stated that Lincoln’s model ‘makes the freedom of the negro a sham, and perpetuates Slavery under a softer name’.
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