American Party
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for American Party. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
THE, the name of three separate organizations which at different times held a prominent place in the political affairs of the United States. The first, organized about 1852, at a time when the Whig party was near its dissolution was, in fact, a secret society, and was better known in later years as the "Know Nothings," from the assumed AM. PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION 144 ignorance of its members when questioned in regard to the objects and name of the order. Its principal doctrine was opposition to all foreigners and Roman Catholics, and its motto was "Americans must rule America." The first National Convention of the party was held in February, 1856, at which resolutions were adopted, demanding a lengthening of the residence necessary to naturalization, and condemning President Pierce's administration for the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. A number of the members withdrew because of the re. fusal to consider a resolution regarding the restriction of slavery. Millard Fillmore, of New York, was nominated for President, and Andrew Jackson Donelson for Vice-President, which nominations were subsequently indorsed by the Whig Convention. Fillmore carried but one State, Maryland. The party was successful in carrying the State elections in Rhode Island and Maryland in 1857, but never gained any popularity in the Western States. A second party, bearing the same name, but directly adverse to the first in that it was founded in opposition to secret societies, was organized for political purposes by the National Christian Association. The organization was completed and the name adopted at a convention in Syracuse, N. Y., in 1874. At Pittsburgh, June 9, 1875, a platform was adopted in which were demanded recognition of the Sabbath, the introduction of the Bible into public schools, prohibition of the sale of liquors, the restriction of land monopolies, resumption of specie payment, etc. James B. Walker of Illinois was nominated for President. In 1880, the party again made nominations, and in 1884, S. C. Pomeroy was nominated, but withdrew in favor of John P. St. John, the Prohibition candidate. The third party to be called by the name of American party was organized at a convention held at Philadelphia, Sept. 16-17, 1887. Its principal aims, as set forth in its platform, were: To oppose the existing system of immigration and naturalization of foreigners; to demand its restriction and regulation so as to make a 14-years' residence a prerequisite of naturalization; to exclude from the benefits of citizenship all anarchists, socialists, and other dangerous characters, etc. AMERICAN PROTECTIVE ASSOCI-
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
or Know-Nothing Party , in American politics, an organization opposed to foreign-born voters and to Roman Catholic influence in national affairs. During the late forties of the nineteenth century there was a tremendous emigration from Ireland into this country. Irish laborers poured into the Atlantic cities. Our naturalization laws permitted them to become voters on short notice. They controlled the cities, and were a large factor in state politics. The agitation against the Irish centered in New York and Philadelphia. Both parties were guilty of mob violence and rioting. The native Americans went so far as to burn Irish Catholic churches. The Irish voters paraded the streets with banners bearing such mottoes as "Americans shan't rule us." Anti-foreign sentiment, chiefly against the French, led the Federalists in 1798 to increase the term for naturalization from five to fourteen years. The same sentiment was responsible for the passage of the Alien and Sedition Laws. Although the Republicans repealed the Federal naturalization law in 1802, agitation continued. In 1835 a vigorous anti-foreign political movement was started in New York City. In 1844 the American party cast six electoral votes for Clay. In 1852 increased Irish emigration following the potato famine of 1847 started up the Americans anew. The nucleus of the party was a secret, oath bound society. From a constant habit of answering all inquiries with the profession of not knowing, they were called the Know-Nothings. In 1854 the Know-Nothing party carried state elections in Massachusetts and Delaware. In 1855 they carried most of the New England states, New York, Maryland, Kentucky, and California. In 1856 the Know-Nothing national ticket received 874,000 out of a total of 4,000,000 votes, and actually elected six members of the electoral college . From this time on the party declined. The results of the Civil War, during which foreign-born citizens rendered signal service to the Union cause, gave the Know-Nothing party its quietus. 2026 Editor's Note: The Know-Nothings are American history's textbook nativist party — anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic, secretive — and their name is invoked in every modern debate over immigration. They collapsed over slavery within a few years, their members flowing into the new Republican Party. (Ed: BR 2026-06-21)