jan 1, 1855 - Know-Nothing Party

Description:

Who: Whigs, disaffected by Northern democrats, Whitney.
What: Formally called the American party. Based on nativism: anti-Catholic, anti-Irish, participates in Bloody Kansas, later split because of the slavery issue, afterward many go to the Republican party.
Where: USA, strongest in NE
Why: Shows intense nativism, anti-immigrant sentiment after increased immigration of the '40s and '50s.

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