In the 1840s and 1850s, millions of immigrants came to the United States from Ireland and Germany. Many left their homes to escape famine, poverty, or political problems in Europe. Most settled in northern cities such as New York, Boston, and Chicago, where they hoped to find jobs and safety. By 1860, more than one out of eight people in the nation had been born somewhere else. This sudden change made cities busier and more diverse. However, it also sparked fear in some native-born Americans. They worried that their culture and jobs were at risk.
These fears led to a movement called nativism. Nativists believed that the government should favor people born in the United States instead of immigrants. Some worried that Catholic immigrants would follow the Pope rather than U.S. laws. Others thought immigrants took jobs from native workers or had too much power in city politics. Members of the temperance movement also joined in the criticisms of immigrants. They said Irish and German immigrants drank too much. This caused problems in their neighborhoods, so they wanted to ban alcohol sales. These groups claimed that newcomers posed a danger to American life.
Tensions between Protestants and Catholics turned violent in Philadelphia in 1844 during the Philadelphia Nativist Riots. When a Catholic bishop asked to use the Catholic Bible in schools, rumors spread that Catholics wanted to remove the Protestant Bible completely. Nativists held angry rallies that turned into riots. For days, mobs set fire to Catholic churches, schools, and homes. At least twenty people died, and many more were hurt. These riots showed how fear and religion could lead to violence against immigrants.
In the early 1850s, nativist ideas grew into a political group called the Know-Nothing Party. Its members met in secret and promised to vote only for native-born candidates. When asked about their meetings, they said, “I know nothing,” which gave the group its name. The Know-Nothings wanted immigrants to wait longer for citizenship. They also opposed government support for Catholic schools.
The Know-Nothings quickly gained power in northern cities. In 1855, their candidate, Levi Boone, became the mayor of Chicago. Boone raised liquor license fees and ordered taverns to close on Sundays. These rules primarily targeted Irish and German neighborhoods. Protests against them turned into the Lager Beer Riot, which left one person dead and several injured.
After the riot, many people began to see the Know-Nothings as unfair and extreme. The party also lost support because it refused to take a clear side in the national debate over slavery. By 1860, the Know-Nothing Party was gone. However, the fear of immigrants that it helped form remained.
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