NativismNativism

•Native Native American PartyAmerican Party

•Know NothingsKnow Nothings

The Native American The Native American PartyParty

•AKA The Know Nothing PartyAKA The Know Nothing Party

•Anti-immigrant, anti-Anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic groups formed in Catholic groups formed in the 1840’s in response to the 1840’s in response to increased immigration from increased immigration from Ireland and Germany.Ireland and Germany.

Order of the Star Order of the Star Spangled Spangled BannerBanner•Formed in 1850Formed in 1850

•Becomes Native American Party Becomes Native American Party in 1851in 1851

•Supported WASP male Supported WASP male dominancedominance

•Thrived on secrecy, thus the Thrived on secrecy, thus the nickname “Know Nothings”nickname “Know Nothings”

The Know-Nothings Anti-immigrant sentiment was promoted by well-funded and well-organized social and political groups. One such group was a secret fraternal organization called the Know-Nothings. The group earned its name because its members, when asked about their group’s activities, answered by saying, “I know nothing.”      The Know-Nothings reorganized themselves into a political party. The American Party would boast of more than 1 million members by the 1850s. They achieved remarkable political success in a short time, claiming more than 40 congressional seats.

“… [In Massachusetts] are heard the voices of her native born children,

declaring for the perpetuity AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS, and AMERICAN

LIBERTIES. The [people] have spoken in a voice of

thunder, in favor of Americans ruling America …

the warm pulsation of the people’s heart beats only for FREEDOM … and

PROTESTANTISM.” —Daily Evening Journal, November

14, 1854

Major Streams of 19Major Streams of 19thth Century Century Immigration:Immigration:

•Population in 1820: 9.6 million, Population in 1820: 9.6 million, mostly English and Protestantmostly English and Protestant

•Approximate Totals 1812-1920:Approximate Totals 1812-1920:

•30 million from Europe30 million from Europe

•700,000 from Asia700,000 from Asia

•900,000 from Latin America900,000 from Latin America

•19th Century Immigration:

•Almost 2 million African American slaves in US by 1820.

•Between 75,000 and 100,000 citizens of Mexican provinces of CA, TX, NM, AZ made Americans by conquest in 1848.

•About 2.5 million Irish between 1810 and 1855

•Over 3 million Germans immigrated between 1820 and 1880

•300,000 Chinese immigrated between 1848 and 1882 (Chinese Exclusion Act).

 

700,000

Irish ImmigrationIrish Immigration

Irish ImmigrationIrish Immigration

•Desperate, hungry immigrants Desperate, hungry immigrants suffered the nightmares of the suffered the nightmares of the crossing to America.crossing to America.

•So many died that the ships So many died that the ships became known as “coffin became known as “coffin ships”.ships”.

Link With the PastLink With the Past

•According to the 2000 According to the 2000 Census about 30 million Census about 30 million Americans were of Irish Americans were of Irish AncestryAncestry

•43 million claimed German 43 million claimed German ancestryancestry

Nativist fears wereNativist fears were politically, politically, economically and culturally economically and culturally motivated. Anti-Irish attitudes:motivated. Anti-Irish attitudes:• Race: portrayed as non-white, monkey-Race: portrayed as non-white, monkey-

like.like.

• Work: Irish lazy, manual laborers, poor.Work: Irish lazy, manual laborers, poor.

• Religion: Catholicism is a foreign religion.Religion: Catholicism is a foreign religion.

• Violence: Irish are inherently violent Violence: Irish are inherently violent savage, troublemakers.savage, troublemakers.

• Politics: loyal to Pope over President, links Politics: loyal to Pope over President, links to monarchy threaten American freedom.to monarchy threaten American freedom.

NO IRISH NEED APPLY I'm a decent boy just landed From the town of Ballyfad; I want a situation, yes, And want it very bad. I have seen employment advertised, "It's just the thing," says I, "But the dirty spalpeen ended with 'No Irish Need Apply.' " "Whoa," says I, "that's an insult, But to get the place I'll try," So I went to see the blackguard With his "No Irish Need Apply." Some do count it a misfortune To be christened Pat or Dan, But to me it is an honor To be born an Irishman. I started out to find the house, I got it mighty soon; There I found the old chap seated, He was reading the Tribune. I told him what I came for, When he in a rage did fly, "No!" he says, "You are a Paddy, And no Irish need apply."

HISTORY’S VOICES

     The American Party even ran a presidential candidate in 1856 (Millard Fillmore). Eventually disagreements over slavery and related political issues fractured the party, and it ceased to exist by the time of the Civil War.

American Nativist Party American Nativist Party PlatformPlatform• (1) (1) Extend the period of Extend the period of

naturalization to 21 years.naturalization to 21 years.•(2) Elect only native born to all (2) Elect only native born to all

offices.offices.•(3) Reject foreign interference in (3) Reject foreign interference in

all institutions, social, religious, all institutions, social, religious, and political.and political.

Hostility Toward the IrishHostility Toward the IrishWhy?Why?

• More than 1.3 mill Irish came between More than 1.3 mill Irish came between 1846-1855.1846-1855.

• Out of a population of about 24 Out of a population of about 24 million this was considered a threat to million this was considered a threat to their way of life.their way of life.

• Resented because of their poverty and Resented because of their poverty and seen as a threat to American workers.seen as a threat to American workers.

• ReligionReligion

Religious DiscrimnationReligious Discrimnation

•Most Irish immigrants were Most Irish immigrants were Roman Catholics and the U.S. Roman Catholics and the U.S. was predominantly Protestant.was predominantly Protestant.

•Some believed that Some believed that Catholicism was at odds with Catholicism was at odds with the principles of democracy.the principles of democracy.

HISTORY’S VOICES

Voices From History

“Popery cannot tolerate our form of government … Popery does not acknowledge the right of the people to govern; but claims for itself the

supreme right to govern all people and all rulers by divine right … It does not tolerate liberty of

conscience nor liberty of opinion.”-Samuel F.B.Morse

Inventor of the first practical telegraph

—Samuel F. B. Morse

Political Cartoon: The Pope’s Political Cartoon: The Pope’s DreamDream• Illustrates nativist sentiment towards Illustrates nativist sentiment towards

Catholic immigrants.Catholic immigrants.

• Catholics are depicted as anti-Catholics are depicted as anti-democratic and loyal primarily to the democratic and loyal primarily to the Pope.Pope.

• The “Pope’s Dream” is to preside over The “Pope’s Dream” is to preside over

““A Catholic America” that values “The A Catholic America” that values “The Church First—The Country Afterwards”Church First—The Country Afterwards”

German Immigrants Faced A different Experience Nearly as many Germans as Irish immigrated to the United States in the mid-1800s. Fortunately for the Germans, they did not encounter the same hostility that greeted Irish immigrants. Whereas most Irish immigrants were poor and Catholic, most German immigrants were middle class and Protestant.     German immigrants spread across the country. They could afford to travel far inland, seeking free or cheap land, reunions with relatives, or other opportunities in the heartland. Many settled in the Midwest, but large German immigrant communities could be found from New York to Texas. German immigrants worked as farmers, artisans, factory workers, and in other occupations.

Anti-Chinese SentimentsAnti-Chinese Sentiments

•ViolenceViolence

•RacismRacism

•Political and Economic Political and Economic DiscriminationDiscrimination

Philadelphia Nativist Riots Philadelphia Nativist Riots May 1844May 1844

•Was a reaction to influx of Irish Was a reaction to influx of Irish immigrants.immigrants.

•Between 1820 and 1865 over Between 1820 and 1865 over 80,000 Irish migrated to 80,000 Irish migrated to Philadelphia.Philadelphia.

•Tensions started over the issue of Tensions started over the issue of religion in public schools.religion in public schools.

Protestant majority controlled Protestant majority controlled actions of school systemactions of school system

• Protestant concepts were in direct conflict Protestant concepts were in direct conflict with the teachings of the Catholic church.with the teachings of the Catholic church.

• After many attempts Catholics won non-After many attempts Catholics won non-denominational schooling in the Phila. denominational schooling in the Phila.

• Protestant groups objected and took their Protestant groups objected and took their objections to the streets.objections to the streets.

• Catholics later withdraw from public Catholics later withdraw from public schools to form private Catholic schools.schools to form private Catholic schools.

Results of the RiotsResults of the Riots•Significant property damage.Significant property damage.

•Churches and convents were burned. Churches and convents were burned.

•Homes were broken into and burned, Homes were broken into and burned, Irish families beaten. Irish families beaten.

•Area of focus was “Irish” Kensington Area of focus was “Irish” Kensington and Southwark.and Southwark.

•Many were injured, some fatally Many were injured, some fatally wounded.wounded.

Martial law was enforced for a Martial law was enforced for a weekweek

•Sheriff and deputies were w/o Sheriff and deputies were w/o guns and were ineffective.guns and were ineffective.

•Militia general and his troops Militia general and his troops were fired upon.were fired upon.

•Nativists later said the general Nativists later said the general favored immigrants and trampled favored immigrants and trampled on the rights of native Americanson the rights of native Americans

Linking the Past and PresentLinking the Past and Present

• Students can use the website for the Students can use the website for the Southern Poverty Law Center to Southern Poverty Law Center to research present day examples of research present day examples of nativism.nativism.

• Interactive U. S. Map Web Address:Interactive U. S. Map Web Address: www.splcenter.org/intel/map/hate.jsp

Southern Poverty Law CenterSouthern Poverty Law Center

The Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project counted 844 active hate groups in the United States in 2006. Only organizations and their chapters known to be active during 2006 are included.

Link to Present Day NativismNutley, NJ (Assault) Published on 06-29-2007"Kerri A. Livesay, 34, was charged with simple assault and a bias crime after allegedly screaming curses and assaulting a teen wearing traditional Muslim garb at a store."

 

Jackson, NJ (Assault) Published on 06-17-2007"Christopher Clauder Jr., Christopher Balasone, Andre Ferreira and Edward Fischer, all 18, were charged with assault and bias intimidation for allegedly throwing eggs and shouting racist epithets at people in a neighborhood. Three 17-year-olds were also charged with juvenile delinquency." www.splcenter.org

 

Wanaque, NJ (Vandalism) Published on 06-05-2007 "Three teenage girls were

charged with criminal mischief, harassment and bias intimidation for allegedly vandalizing the home of an Asian man with ketchup, white rice, dishwashing detergent, and an epithet directed at Chinese people."

  Little Falls, NJ (Harassment) Published on 05-12-2007"David Liscio, 32, was charged with harassment,

making terroristic threats and bias intimidation after he allegedly shouted racial slurs at a Latino Muslim woman. "       

  

 

Southern Poverty Law Southern Poverty Law CenterCenterMap-NJ Hate GroupsMap-NJ Hate Groups

Hate groups in New Jersey