The Republican Party of Liberia was a political party founded soon after the founding of Liberia in 1848. It was known to be made up primarily of light-skinned Americo-Liberians, and its main opponent was the True Whig Party. Despite the support of the first President of Liberia, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, as well as the distinction of being the first Liberian party voted into office, the party fell apart soon after the death of Roberts. The end of President James Spriggs-Payne's term in 1878 and the ascension of Anthony W. Gardiner to the presidency marked the end of the Republican Party and the beginning of nearly a century of True Whig dominance in Liberian politics. A political party is an organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... 1848 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Americo-Liberians are the relatively wealthy elite of Liberia. ... The True Whig, also known as Liberian Whig Party, was Liberias only legal political party for over 100 years, from 1878 to the coup detat of 1980. ... The following is a list of Presidents of Liberia: Joseph Jenkins Roberts 1847-1856 Stephen Allen Benson 1856-1864 Daniel Bashiel Warner 1864-1868 James Spriggs Payne 1868-1870 Edward J. Roye 1870-1871 Joseph Jenkins Roberts 1871-1876 James Spriggs Payne 1876-1878 Anthony W. Gardiner 1878-1883 Alfred... Joseph Jenkins Roberts (March 15, 1809 – February 24, 1876) was the first President of Liberia (1848–1856, 1872–1876). ... James Spriggs Payne (Richmond, Virginia, December 19, 1819 – January 31, 1882 in Monrovia, Liberia) was the fourth and eighth president of Liberia, in office from 1868 to 1870 and 1876 to 1878. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Anthony William Gardiner was the president of Liberia from 1878 until 1883. ...