1844-1860: Know-Nothing Party - During the 1950s, the Know-Nothing, or American, party campaigned on a platform that opposed Catholic immigration to the United States. Otherwise, the party essentially lacked a platform and was extremely secretive. Widespread nativist sentiment during the 1850s led to the success of this party in the Northeast, with members in Congress and a majority in the government of Massachusetts. (1 Jan 1844 Jahr – 1 Jan 1860 Jahr)