Anti-Catholic nativism in the 19th century Nativism (politics)

guardians of liberty 1943 bishop alma white

nativist outbursts occurred in northeast 1830s 1850s, in response surge of irish catholic immigration. in 1836, samuel morse ran unsuccessfully mayor of new york city on nativist ticket, receiving 1,496 votes. in new york city, order of united americans founded nativist fraternity, following philadelphia nativist riots of preceding spring , summer, in december, 1844.

in 1849–50 charles b. allen founded nativist society called order of star spangled banner in new york city. in order join order, man had twenty-one, protestant, believer in god, , willing obey without question dictates of order. members of order became known know nothings (a label applied them because if asked said know nothing secret society).

the nativists went public in 1854 when formed american party , hostile immigration of irish catholics , campaigned laws require longer wait time between immigration , naturalization. (the laws never passed.) @ time term nativist first appears, opponents denounced them bigoted nativists. former president millard fillmore ran on american party ticket presidency in 1856. american party included many ex-whigs ignored nativism, , included (in south) few catholics families had long lived in america. conversely, of opposition catholics came protestant irish immigrants , german lutheran immigrants not native @ , can hardly called nativists.

this form of nationalism identified xenophobia , anti-catholic sentiment (anti-papism). in charlestown, massachusetts, nativist mob attacked , burned down catholic convent in 1834 (no 1 injured). in 1840s, small scale riots between catholics , nativists took place in several american cities. in philadelphia in 1844, example, series of nativist assaults on catholic churches , community centers resulted in loss of lives , professionalization of police force. in louisville, kentucky, election-day rioters killed @ least 22 people in attacks on german , irish catholics on aug. 6, 1855, in became known bloody monday. nativist sentiment experienced revival in 1890s, led protestant irish immigrants hostile catholic immigration.