Know Nothing Party

The Know Nothing Party, officially known as the American Party, was a prominent political movement in the United States during the mid-1850s. The party emerged from a secret society called the Order of the Star-Spangled Banner, which was founded in 1849. The Know Nothings were characterized by their strong anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic sentiments, driven by the rapid increase in immigration to the United States, particularly from Ireland and Germany.

The Know Nothing Party advocated for policies that restricted immigration and naturalization, and they supported longer residency requirements for immigrants to become citizens. Their slogan was “Americans must rule America,” reflecting their nativist stance. The party also sought to prevent Catholics from holding public office, fearing that Catholic immigrants were loyal to the Pope over American institutions.

At the height of its influence, the Know Nothing Party enjoyed significant electoral success. In the 1854 and 1855 elections, they gained control of several state legislatures and won numerous seats in Congress. However, the party’s influence quickly declined due to internal divisions, particularly over the issue of slavery. The party split over whether to support the expansion of slavery into new territories, leading many members to leave and join other emerging political movements, such as the Republican Party.

By the late 1850s, the Know Nothing Party had largely faded from the political scene, though its nativist sentiments continued to influence American politics for years to come.