In the 1850’s the United States was on the verge of being divided, both politically and physically. For the thirty years prior to this the U.S. had gone through a series of compromises and deals, in order to make both the North and the South happy. The U.S. was changing and changing fast. There was constant debate about the slavery issue, the rise of the Temperance movement, increase in the factory system and an increase in immigration. There were people on both sides of these issues, and they all seemed to know what was right. Some people believed that the government was not doing enough about these issues and decided to form their own political party hoping for change.
From 1846 to1855 more than three million immigrants came into the United States, most of them from either Ireland or Germany. For some Americans, they saw the immigrants as a threat. They were taking jobs and going to force their religion (Catholic) upon the country. One man, Charles Allen of New York, decided to take action. He started a secret society called the “Star Spangled Banner” Society. Eventually this group formed a political party, the American Party. They were nicknamed the Know-Nothings because if one of them was asked about the party’s workings they were to respond, “I know nothing.” This party was anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic.
The Know-Nothing platform consisted of three basic ideas. The first was that twenty-one year residency would be required before citizenship and gaining the right to vote. The second would put limitations on office holding to native-born Americans. The third idea put restrictions on the sale of liquor. The Know-Nothings saw alcohol as a problem in the American society and the immigrants were the leading cause of that problem.
The Know-Nothing party attracted the Free-Soilers in the North and the Southern Whigs ready for change. They got more Americans behind them when inflation rose in the early 1850’s because of the increase in the supply of gold from California. The rise of inflation led to price increases and wage cutting by employers. Many Americans, including the Know-Nothings, put the blame on the immigrants.
By the Presidential election of 1856 the Know-Nothing party had challenged the Whig party as the second leading political party in the United States. They nominated Millard Fillmore, former President, for the highest office in the land. Although he didn’t win the election, he did receive 21.6% of the popular vote and 8 electoral votes. The increase in the popularity for the Know-Nothing party was also seen in Congress. Five Senators and Forty-three Representatives where affiliated with the Know-Nothing party.
Not everyone was excited about the Know-Nothings. One politician, who was on the rise through the Whig party, was Abraham Lincoln. He stated in 1855, “When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read ‘all men are created equal, except Negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.'” By the end of 1856 the prejudices of the Know-Nothings had taken its toll on the beliefs of the Americans. Party numbers dropped as more people left them and went to the new Republican Party or the Constitutional Unionist party.
The Know-Nothing party left their mark on the history of the United States. They showed that Americans were not loyal to party beliefs. The Know-Nothing party destroyed the Whig party and helped lead to the rise of the Republican Party. But it also showed that prejudice towards others, black or white, was an political issue in the country.
Resource:
Martin, Roberts, Mintz, McMurry and Jones, America and its People Volume One to 1877 (Glenview, Illinois, Scott, Foresman and Company, 1989) 417-419
