Journal Entry #1
The Know Nothing Party
Ohio History Central
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=911
The Know Nothing party also held some power in Ohio. Several citities which included Youngstown and Cleveland had newspapers that supported the Know Nothing belief. Ohio's Know Nothings formed an alliance in the 1850's with the Fusionist Party. One of the many reasons as to why the Know Nothing party did not like immigrants and Catholics was because they did not seem to support the American way of life. These groups were only interested in their own lives. According to the Ohio History Center, "Many white Protestants in the state disliked the Catholic Church for opposing taxation to finance public schools. Catholic parents preferred enrolling their sons and daughters in Catholic schools and did not feel that they should financially support schools that their children did not attend" (1). Immigrants and people of different religion had a very hard time in become familiar with the American culture. When individuals moved into this country, they were too bussy trying to make a living and support their own families than caring about the culture around them. This is one of the many reasons why Americans did not appreciate immigrants and stood against them instead.
Journal Entry #2
The Know Nothings in Maryland
http://teachingamericanhistorymd.net/000001/000000/000065/html/t65.html
A nativist movement began to develop throughout the eastern United States. This political party also went on during the Mexican war, but it stalled during that period. Once the Mexican war ended, the party continued on, and even stronger than before. The main focus for this party was to elect native-born men to political offices and to create a 25-year residence restriction for citizenship. Additionally, Maryland members of the American party sided with a growing temperance movement. According to this article, "At the June 1855 convention in Philadelphia, Southern members seized control and adopted a pro-slavery platform" (1). Not only was this party's main concern to stop immigration, reduce the rights to immigrants and Catholics, but it also got a hold of power against the African Americans in slavery. When individuals start to gain power, they only want to gain even more control of it than they already have. The poor actions which were taken by the Know Nothing Party resulted in immigrants losing jobs, not becoming American Citizens, and being discriminated against on a great level.
Journal Entry #3
The Know Nothing Party
Historical Field
http://www.ashfieldhistorical.org/nothing.htm
During the period in which the Know-Nothing Party possessed power in the state legislature, they instituted many reforms for the working class. They attracted many members to their party in response to what they considered a corrupt and inattentive government. According to the Historical Field, "This party was based on nativistic beliefs and its members were native born male protestants who were opposed to immigrants being able to vote or hold political office" (1). Native born citizens of the United States would conform to this party, and follow these beliefs. It was very hard for immigrants to make a living in a new country where they barely spoke the language. Groups such as the Know-Nothing's only made things worse for immigrants. When a group of individuals develop a political party and are in power, they have the ability to convince other individuals to conform to them and follow their ways. Conformity was a huge factor which played during immigration, because many native American born citizens were against immigration. This only made it more difficult for immigrants to feel accepted and to be successful in their new country.
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