GOP Red and Blue Smiley

Red and blue illustration of a smiley face made up of letters and a smile on a white background

The GOP, or Grand Old Party, is another name for the Republican Party, one of the two major political parties in the United States. It was founded in 1854 by a few different groups of people: former Whigs and Free Soilers, modernists, and anti-slavery activists. The party got its name after Republicanism, which was a common value during the American Revolution. The GOP stands by conservative values, capitalism, stronger national defense, and deregulation. Overall, there have been 19 Republican presidents throughout American history.