`Know-Nothing Party

The German and Irish immigrants alarmed "nativists" as many old sock protestants were claled. They organized the American paty, also known as the Know-Nothing Party, due to the secretiveness of it. In 1856 nominated ex-president Millard Fillmore. Antiforeign and anti-Catholic, these superpatriots adopted the slogan, "Americans Must Rule America." They also threatened to cut into Republican strength. More harmful to Fremont was the allegation, which alienated many bigoted Know-Nothings and other "nativists," that he was a Roman Catholic.