the collapse of the whig party after the kansas–nebraska act passed left an opening for a new major party in to oppose the democrats. the know-nothings elected congressman nathaniel p. banks of massachusetts and many others in the 1854 elections and created a new party known as the american party. particularly in the south, the american party served as a party for politicians who disagreed with the democratic party. many also hoped that it would seek a middle ground between the pro-slavery positions of many democratic politicians and the anti-slavery positions of the emerging republican party. the american party nominated former president millard fillmore in the 1856 presidential election, although he kept quiet about his membership. fillmore received 21.5% of the popular vote in the 1856 presidential election, finishing behind the democratic and republican nominees.