Talk:Abraham Lincoln/@comment-27006713-20160112231116/@comment-71.93.1.162-20160803050132

Yes Lincoln was a Republican in 1860. 1860 was a bit early for the use of Liberal, Lincoln was a former Whig, and described himself as a moderate, but the left wing of what would become Liberalism was, in those days quite extreme. That left wing, what we call today the radical wing believed in the immediate imposition of change by whatever means necessary, and severe punishment of those who disagreed with them. Many believe that Lincoln was a Republican from the election of 1864 onward, but Lincoln ran as candidate for the National Union Party in 1864. Lincoln and the Union Party drew supporters from both Democrats and Republicans, and were at times opposed by both parties.