KNOW NOTHINGS CONVENE IN PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (JFK+50) On February 18, 1856, delegates of the American Party*, a.k.a. "Know Nothings," met here in Philadelphia to nominate their first candidate for President of the United States.
The party, known as the Native American Party before 1855, was the first major third party in the American political system.
The Know Nothings wanted to stop immigrants and Catholics from being elected to political office and from getting jobs that, in their view, should be held by "true Americans."
The American Party elected a hundred candidates to Congress and to eight governorships.
According to Lorraine Boissoneault, the Know Nothings favored deportation of criminals, a 21 year waiting period for naturalization of immigrants, and regular Bible readings in schools.
Their vision of America included "temperance, Protestantism, self reliance with American nationality and work ethic enshrined as the nation's highest values."
The American Party, made up of former Whigs, discontented Democrats and other political outsiders, believed in a Roman Catholic conspiracy to subvert civil and religious liberty in the United States.
Although never publicly denouncing the American Party due to political concerns, Abraham Lincoln wrote privately...
"I am not a Kn0w-Nothing - that is certain. How could I be? When (they) get control (the Declaration of Independence) will read 'all men are created equal except negroes and foreigners and catholics.'"
*American Party (1844-1860) was known as the Native American Party before 1855. Its members were called "Know Nothings" because, as the story goes, when asked a question by an 'outsider.' the answer would always be 'I know nothing.' The political organization was originally a secret society.
SOURCE
"How the 19th Century Know Nothing Party Reshaped American Politics," by Lorraine Boissoneault, January 26, 2017, www.smithsonianmagazine.com/
