what does /pol/ know about the know nothing party aka the american party? > in 1850, a secret society in new york city founded the order of the star-spangled banner and entered politics as the american party. when asked about their party, members pledged to answer "i know nothing." thereafter, the party became known as the know-nothings. > the know nothings political platform was dedicated to nativist causes: no foreign-born protestant could hold office; no catholic, foreign-born or native, could hold any office; no person could apply for citizenship until he or she had lived in the united states for at least 21 years. > members who held any political office promised to help remove all aliens and catholics from all positions of authority and to deny them jobs and profits in private business or public offices. > during the 1854 election, the know nothings emerged as the nation's second largest party; almost a million party members elected 5 senators and 43 representatives to congress. during the 1856 election, the party's presidential candidate, millard fillmore, won 21% of the vote on his proslavery platform. subsequently, the party lost most of its northern delegates, and by 1860, the know-nothings collapsed. > civil war begins 4/12/1860 what was the civil war really about?
United States