George Washington to New Hampshire, 29 December 1777 (Detail, GLC03706) Immigration in America, 1840-1940: American Nativism and Nineteenth Century Immigration by Douglas Carey Spring Valley High School, Spring Valley, NY "American Platform of Principles," The True American's Almanac and Politician's Manual for 1857. ed. Tisdale. New York: 1857. The Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance and Abolition and Yale Center for International and Area Studies: http://www.yale.edu/glc/info/search.html Nativism is a term used to describe a feeling shared by a group of Americans mainly of European-Protestant descent, who in the mid-1800s felt threatened by new immigrants from Europe. Their support of more restrictive immigration policies, use of threats and intimidation towards African Americans, Indigenous People, and Catholics from Ireland, were "wrapped" in a patriotic message which attempted to define what and who were the "true Americans." Their nickname was attributed to the secretive nature of their origins. They were also known as "The American Party." They gained support from those that opposed the Democratic Party of the 1850s and who felt that the platform of the Whig party did not represent their political goals. This document was adopted at their convention during the election year of 1856, when the Know-Nothings nominated former-Whig Millard Fillmore as their candidate for president. Fillmore had been elected vice president in 1848 and became president in 1850 upon the death of President Zachary Taylor. AMERICAN PLATFORM OF PRINCIPLES ADOPTED AT PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1856 1. An humble acknowledgement to the Supreme Being, for his protecting care vouchsafed to our fathers in their successful Revolutionary struggle, and hitherto manifested to us, their descendants, in the preservation of the liberties, the independence and the union of these States. 2. The perpetuation of the Federal Union and Constitution, as the palladium of our civil and religious liberties, and the only sure bulwarks of American Independence. 3. Americans must rule America, and to this end native-born citizens should be selected for all State, Federal, and municipal offices of government employment, in preference to all others. Nevertheless, 4. Persons born of American parents residing temporarily abroad, should be entitled to all the rights of native-born citizens. 5. No person should be selected for political station (whether of native or foreign birth), who recognizes any allegiance or obligation of any description to any foreign prince, potentate or power, or who refuses to recognize the Federal and State Constitution (each within its sphere) as paramount to all other laws, as rules of political action. 6. The unequalled recognition and maintenance of the reserved rights of the several States, and the cultivation of harmony and fraternal good will between the citizens of the several States, and to this end, non-interference by Congress with questions appertaining solely to the individual States, and non-intervention by each State with the affairs of any other State. 7. The recognition of the right of native-born and naturalized citizens of the United States, permanently residing in any Territory thereof, to frame their constitution and laws, and to regulate their domestic and social affairs in their own mode, subject only to the provisions of the Federal Constitution, with the privilege of admission into the Union whenever they have the requisite population for one Representative in Congress: Provided, always, that none but those who are citizens of the United States, under the Constitution and laws thereof, and who have a fixed residence in any such territory, ought to participate in the formation of the Constitution, or in the enactment of laws for said Territory or State. 8. An enforcement of the principles that no State or Territory ought to admit others than citizens to the right of suffrage, or of holding political offices of the United States. 9. A change in the laws of naturalization, making a continued residence of twenty-one years, of all not heretofore provided for, an indispensable requisite for citizenship hereafter, and excluding all paupers, and persons convicted of crime, from landing upon our shores; but no interference with the vested rights of foreigners. 10. Opposition to any union between Church and State; no interference with religious faith or worship, and no test oaths for office. 11. Free and thorough investigation into any and all alleged abuses of public functionaries, and a strict economy in public expenditures. 12. The maintenance and enforcement of all laws constitutionally enacted until said laws shall be repealed, or shall be declared null and void by competent judicial authority. 13. Opposition to the reckless and unwise policy of the present Administration in the general management of our national affairs, and more especially as shown in removing "Americans" (by designation) and Conservatives in principle, from office, and placing foreigners and Ultraists in their places; as shown in a truckling subserviency to the stronger, and an insolent and cowardly bravado towards the weaker powers; as shown in re-opening sectional agitation; by the repeal of the Missouri Compromise; as shown in granting to unnaturalized foreigners the right of suffrage in Kansas and Nebraska question; as shown in the corruptions which pervade some of the Departments of the Government; as shown in disgracing meritorious naval officers through prejudice or caprice; and as shown in the blundering mismanagement of our foreign relations. 14. Therefore, to remedy existing evils, and prevent the disastrous consequences otherwise resulting therefrom, we would build up the "American Party" upon the principles hereinbefore stated. 15. That each State Council shall have authority to amend their several Constitutions, so as to abolish the several degrees and substitute a pledge of honor, instead of other obligations, for fellowship and admission into the party. 16. A free and open discussion of all political principles embraced in our platform. 1. Why do you think that the members of the Know-Nothing Party felt that they were more "American" than other residents? 2. Why is the location of the national convention of the Know-Nothing's meeting to adopt their "American Platform of Principles" so symbolically significant? 3. Carefully read each of the 16 principles. Choose the 2 most inflammatory and anti-immigrant platform statements and then the 2 that you consider the least offensive to the rights of foreign-born Americans. Explain each of your decisions. 4. The Know-Nothings were gaining popularity in the North as well as the South. They elected the Governor of Massachusetts, Henry J. Gardner, yet failed to elect a president or become one of the two major political parties in the USA. Why did most of the northern Know-Nothings switch their support to candidate John C. Fremont in the election of 1856?