KNOW NOTHING or AMERICAN PARTY, in United States history, a political party of great importance in the decade before 186o. Its principle was political proscription of naturalized citizens and of Roman Catholics. In the years 1830-60 Irish immigration became increasingly preponderant ; and that of Cath olics was even more so. The geographical segregation and the clannishness of foreign voters in the cities gave them a power that Whigs and Democrats alike strove to control, to the great aggravation of naturalization and election frauds. "No one can deny that ignorant foreign suffrage had grown to be an evil of immense proportions" (J. F. Rhodes). In labour disputes, political feuds and social clannishness, the alien elements—especially the Irish and German—displayed their power, and at times gave offence by their hostile criticism of American institutions. In immigration centres like Boston, Philadelphia and New York, the Catholic Church, very largely foreign in membership and proclaiming a foreign allegiance of disputed extent, was really "the symbol and strength of foreign influence" (Scisco); many regarded it as a transplanted foreign institution, un-American in organization and ideas. Thus it became involved in politics. The decade 1830-40 was marked by anti-Catholic (anti-Irish) riots in various cities and by party organization of nativists in many places in local elections. Thus arose the American-Repub lican (later the Native-American) Party, whose national career began practically in 1845, and which in Louisiana in 1841 first received a State organization. New York city in 1844 and Boston in 1845 were carried by the nativists, but their success was due to Whig support, which was not continued, and the national organization was practically extinct by 1847. In the early '5os nativism was revivified by an unparalleled inflow of aliens. In 1853-54 there was a widespread "anti-popery" propaganda and riots against Catholics in various cities. Meanwhile the Know Nothing Party had sprung from nativist secret societies. Like these, its organization was secret ; and hence its name—for a member, when interrogated, always answered that he knew noth ing about it. Selecting candidates secretly from among those nom inated by the other parties, and giving them no public endorse ment, the Know Nothings, as soon as they gained the balance of power, could shatter at will Whig and Democratic calculations. Their power was evident by 1852—from which time, accordingly, "Know-Nothingism" is most properly dated. The charges they brought against naturalization abuses were only too well founded; and those against election frauds not less so. The proposed pro scription of the foreign-born knew no exceptions: many wished never to concede to them all the rights of natives, nor to their children unless educated in the public schools. As for Catholics,
the real animus of Know-Nothingism was against political Ro manism; therefore, secondarily, against papal allegiance and epis copal Church administration (in place of administration by lay trustees, as was earlier common practice in the United States); and, primarily, against public aid to Catholic schools, and the alleged greed (i.e., the power and success) of the Irish in politics. The times were propitious for the success of an aggressive third party, but the Know Nothings lacked aggression. In entering national politics the party abandoned its mysteries, without mak ing compensatory gains. When it was compelled to publish a platform of principles, factions arose in its ranks; moreover, it "straddled" the slavery question. In 1854, however, Know Noth ing gains were remarkable. In this year "American Party" be came the official name. Its strength in Congress was almost thirtyfold that of 1852. It elected governors, legislatures, or both, in four New England States, and in Maryland, Kentucky and California; and almost won six Southern States. Thereafter the organization spread like wildfire in the South, in which section there were almost no aliens. Know Nothing evasion of the slavery question probably helped the South, but neither Republi cans nor Democrats would endure the evasion; Douglas and Seward, and later (1855-56) their parties, denounced it. In the North-West the Know Nothings were swept into the anti slavery movement in 1854 without retaining their organization. The national platform of 1856 (adopted by a secret grand coun cil), besides including anti-alien and anti-Catholic planks, offered sops to the North, the South and the "dough-faces" on the slavery issue. Millard Fillmore was nominated for the presidency. Eight months later the Republican wave swept the Know Nothings out of the North. Their popular vote in the North was under one seventh, in the South above three-sevenths, of the total vote cast. By 1859 the party was confined almost entirely to the border States. The Constitutional Union—the "Do Nothing"—Party of 186o was mainly composed of Know Nothing remnants. The year 186o practically marked, also, the disappearance of the party as a local power. Except in city politics nativism had no vitality. Public opinion has never accepted its estimate of the alien nor of Catholic citizens. Some of its anti-Church principles, however— as the non-support of denominational schools—have been gen erally accepted.