The American Party

Historians of American politics refer to the Federalist-Republican rivalry of 1792-1816 as the "First Party System;" the Whig-Democratic competition lasting from 1828-1854 is regarded as the "Second Party System." The Whig Party collapsed in 1854, the result of internal divisions over the issues of slavery, economic development, women's rights, and the expansion of popular government. Another important factor linked to the demise of the Whig Party was the tremendous wave of immigrants that began to arrive on American shores in the mid-1840s.

This influx of foreigners stirred a movement, comprised of American-born Protestants, known as nativism, whose adherents feared that loyalty to the Pope among Irish Catholics would subvert the democratic ideals of the American political system. They also regarded the Irish, most of whom were quite poor, as a criminal and disease-ridden element that would bring about moral decay -- at a time when the nation was undertaking the pursuit of its "Manifest Destiny," the 19th-century doctrine that the United States had the right and duty to expand throughout the North American continent.

Participants in the nativist movement organized a group based in New York City known as the Order of United Americans; in 1852, many members of this group went on to found the Supreme Order of the Star Spangled Banner, more popularly known as the "Know-Nothings." The name refers to the oath members took not to reveal information about the organization's membership criteria or secret rituals; when questioned, members were instructed to reply "I know nothing about it."

In 1854, the Know-Nothing movement established the American Party and succeeded in electing large numbers of their supporters to Congress and state legislatures across the nation.

The American Party's platform called for severe restrictions on immigration and for limiting eligibility to hold public office only to native-born Americans. They also endorsed the prohibition of Catholics from teaching in the public schools.

In 1856, the American Party nominated former Whig President Millard Fillmore as its presidential candidate. Denied the Whig Party's renomination in 1852, Fillmore, who began his political career as a member of the Anti-Masonic Party, accepted the American Party's endorsement four years later. He won 21 percent of the popular vote but carried only the state of Maryland. In the aftermath of the 1856 election, the Know-Nothing movement divided over the issue of slavery, and much of its membership was absorbed into the recently formed Republican Party.