reform programme of Protestant social activists campaigning for the abolition of slavery and the prohibition of alcohol. Between 1853 and 1855, the Know Nothings replaced the Whigs as the nation's second largest party. Using the name American Party, the Know Nothings swept to political victory in Massachusetts, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maryland, and Kentucky. This in part was down to their ability to exploit anti-slavery and nativist issues. American party tickets also ran strong races in Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. By 1854, nativism seemed on the verge of carrying the entire country. In the south they served essentially as the Whigs under a new name. However, the Know Nothings proved unable to enact their legislative program, with critics claiming that the movement not only knew nothing, but did nothing! But this was not the only issue. A decline of immigration in the mid-1850’s led to a decline in nativism, which was central to their party’s beliefs. Furthermore, Nathaniel Banks left the party and joined the Republican party. He soon became speaker of the House, which helped weld the Republicans into a more coherent party. In a desperate measure to retain sectional unity the Know Nothings supported the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. This alienated northern anti-slavery elements who moved to support the Republicans. Despite its political success in 1854 and 1855, the national Know Nothing Party could not survive the anti-slavery controversy. Beating of Sumner
reform programme of Protestant social activists campaigning for the abolition of slavery and the prohibition of alcohol. Between 1853 and 1855, the Know Nothings replaced the Whigs as the nation's second largest party. Using the name American Party, the Know Nothings swept to political victory in Massachusetts, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maryland, and Kentucky. This in part was down to their ability to exploit anti-slavery and nativist issues. American party tickets also ran strong races in Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. By 1854, nativism seemed on the verge of carrying the entire country. In the south they served essentially as the Whigs under a new name. However, the Know Nothings proved unable to enact their legislative program, with critics claiming that the movement not only knew nothing, but did nothing! But this was not the only issue. A decline of immigration in the mid-1850’s led to a decline in nativism, which was central to their party’s beliefs. Furthermore, Nathaniel Banks left the party and joined the Republican party. He soon became speaker of the House, which helped weld the Republicans into a more coherent party. In a desperate measure to retain sectional unity the Know Nothings supported the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. This alienated northern anti-slavery elements who moved to support the Republicans. Despite its political success in 1854 and 1855, the national Know Nothing Party could not survive the anti-slavery controversy. Beating of Sumner
rise-of-the-republicans-information.docx