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#ElectionTwitter Thread: Map of the % of the vote received by the nativist & anti-catholic American Party (known as the "Know-Nothings") in 1856. The Know-Nothings nominated former Whig President Millard Fillmore, who got 21.5% of the vote, tho he only won the state of Maryland.
Democrat James Buchanan won the 1856 election with 45.3% of the vote, while the newly formed anti-slavery Republican Party, led by John C Fremont, won 33.1%, almost all in the Northern States. The Know-Nothings won many former Whig areas in the South. Map from Wikipedia:
While the Know-Nothings came up short in the 1856 Presidential Election, during the period from 1855-1861 they elected Governors in the states of CA, KY, MD, DE, CT, RI, MA, & NH, & also won control of several state legislative chambers, showing broad appeal across many regions:
The Know-Nothings rose as a political force in 1854, coincident with the rise of the GOP, as the Kansas-Nebraska issue destroyed the Whig Party. Many Irish & German Catholics had immigrated to the US after 1830, which led to a proliferation of secret anti-immigrant societies.
The party earned it's nickname because members of the secret societies were supposed to reply with "I know nothing" when asked about their activities. The official name of the party in most states was originally the "Native American Party", later switched to the "American Party."
Since the newly-formed & anti-slavery GOP was not competitive in the South, the Know-Nothings became the only viable alternative to the Democrats in that region. They drew the support of former Whigs & voters who were more moderate on the issue of slavery & possible secession.
However, in the North the Know-Nothings mostly did not draw their support from former Whigs, who tended to be higher-income and had mostly migrated to the GOP. Instead their support was with low-income native-born workers in new industrial areas who were competing with immigrants
The Know-Nothings tried to follow the Whig path of moderation on the issue of slavery, positioning themselves between the pro-slavery Democrats & anti-slavery Republicans. But as the Civil War approached voters were increasingly polarized on the issue of slavery & left the party.
Most Know-Nothings in the North joined the Republican Party, who welcomed their support, tho with some private reservations (Lincoln was disgusted with the movement but never publicly attacked them as he needed their votes). In the South many joined the Constitutional Union Party
Thanks to @IWantMoreBooks2 for suggesting I do a map of Know-Nothing support.
