PARTY, The, re sulted from nativism in American politics and from the organization of secret political asso ciations such as the United American Me chanics and the Order of the Sons of America in Pennsylvania; the Order of United Ameri cans and the Order of the Star Spangled Ban ner in New York, founded for the purpose of obtaining the repeal of the Naturalization Law and of the law which permitted others than native Americans to hold office. As a definite political party it may be said to have started in 1852 and existed two or three years. The principles of the Know-nothing party were em bodied in the following propositions (at New York, 1855): (1) The Americans shall rule America. (2) The perpetuation of the union of these States. (3) No North, no South, no East, no West. (4) The United States of America — as they are — one and inseparable.
(5) No sectarian interferences in our legisla tion or in the administration of American law.
(6) Hostility to the assumption of the Pope, through the bishops, etc., in a republic sancti fied by Protestant blood. (7) Thorough re form in the naturalization laws. (8) Free and liberal educational institutions for all sects and classes, with the Bible, God's holy word, as a universal textbook. A society was formed in 1855 in opposition to the above, called Know somethings. Both bodies were absorbed into the two parties, Democrats and Republicans, at the Presidential election in 1856.
The Know-nothing organization was pri marily the result of foreign emigration. In 20 years from 1825 to 1845 the immigration amounted to 1,028,225. The consequence was a sharp awakening of native American preju dice and alarm. The sentiment first showed itself in New York, where the alien population had reached portentous proportions, in the esti mation of citizens of the old stock A native organization for political purposes was effected, and in 1844 it succeeded in electing James Harper mayor on a native American ticket. About this time began the greatimmigration due to the Irish famine, in the five years from 1845 to 1850 there came in about as many aliens as had been received during the whole 20 years before. Native Americanism flamed up hotter than ever, and its political tion extended to other cities and States. The great volume of the Irish immigration was Roman Catholic, and animosity to that Church gave it fire. At Philadelphia two Roman Cath olic churches were destroyed in riots between natives and Irish; at Boston a convent was burned. Six native American representatives were elected to the 29th Congress, that of 1845, four from New York and two from Pennsyl vania. Between 1850 and 1855 the immigration amounted to nearly 2,000,000, and the native spirit was aroused even more hotly. Moreover, the anti-slavery agitation, expressing itself in opposition to the extension of slavery to the Territories, was disturbing party allegiance, and special efforts were made to kindle the native American spirit into a hot flame, with an terior motive, it was believed, of turning the current of public sentiment into other channels.
In 1852 the Know-nothing organization, dis tinctly, made its appearanoe. It was so-called because it was a secret oath-bound fraternity, regarding whose objects and whose real name its members always answered when questioned: ((I don't know.' "Americans must rule Amer
ica!" was its rally cry, and relentless hostility to the increasing power of the Roman Catholic Church and a demand for the extension of the qualification for naturalization to a residence of 21 years were its main purposes. The Know
started off brilliantly. In 1854 they carried the State elections in Massachusetts and Delaware, and polled a great number of votes in New York. In 1855 they elected governors and legislatures in New York and four New England States, and in the South and West they were successful or nearly approached suc cess in nine States. In 1856 eight of the 32 States had native American governors, but in the Presidential election of that year the party cast only about one-fifth of the popular vote and obtained only eight electoral votes, the votes of the single State of Maryland. In the 34th Congress, 1855, it had 5 senators, 43 out and-out Know-nothings as Congressmen and 70, nominally Republicans, but members of Know-nothing councils. In the 35th Congress, 1857, it had 5 senators and 14 representatives. In the next Congress it had 2 senators and 23 representatives, all of them from Southern States. Soon thereafter Know-nothingism went to pieces rapidly and no more of it was heard in politics. It had no representation in Con gress after the 36th. Amongst its most deter mined opponents were Henry Ward Beecher and Horace Greeley. (See aka AMERICAN Parry). Consult Carroll, A. E.., The Great American Battle' (New York 1856); Cluskey, M. W., 'Political Text-Book and Encyclo pedia) (Philadelphia 1860) ; Cross, I., 'The Origin, Principles and History of the Ameri can Party' (in Iowa Journal of History and Politics, Vol. IV, p. 526, Iowa City 1906) ; Davis, H. W., 'Speeches and Addresses' (New York 1867); Desmond, H. J., 'The Know Nothing Party' (Washington 1904); Gay, C. M., 'The Campaign of 1855 in Virginia and the Fall of the Know-Nothing Party' (in Richmond College Historical Papers, Vol. I, p. 309, Richmond 1906); Haynes, G. H., 'Causes of Know-nothing Success in Massa chusetts' (in American Historical Review, Vol. III, p. 67, New York 1897); id., 'A Know nothing Legislature; Mass., 1855' in Amer ican Historical Association, Annual Report for 1896, Vol. I, p. 175, Washington 1897) ; Hutch inson, E., "'Young Sam"; or Native Ameri cans' Own Book' (New York 1855); McMas ter, J. B., 'Riotous Career of Know-nothing ism' (in Forum, Vol. XVII, p. 524, New York 1894); Rhodes, J. F., 'History of the United States, 1850-1877' (Vol. II, New York 1893) ; Schmeckebier, L. F., 'History of the Know Nothing Party in Maryland' (in Johns Hop kins University Studies in Historical and Polit ical Science, Series XVII, Nos. 4-5, Baltimore 1899); Scisco, L. D., 'Nativism in New York State> (New York 1901); Senning, J. P., 'The Know-nothing Movement in Illinois,
(in Illinois State Historical Society Journal, Vol. VII, p. 7, Springfield 1914); Stickney, C.,