The Wide Awakes were a Republican group of young men organized to escort and protect Republican speakers during the highly contentious election of 1860. The men would wear uniforms hats and march with

LOST IN TIME: Republicans in 1860 Did Not Cower from Political Violence - Here Is What the Courageous "Wide Awakes" Did to Protect Republicans from Democrat Violence

A Wide Awakes parade in Lower Manhattan, one of a series of political rallies held in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland, and Boston during the first week of October 1860. (Harpers Weekly, Jim Hoft image) The Wide Awakes were a Republican group of young men organized to escort and protect Republican speakers during the highly contentious election of 1860.