<P> The Native American Party , renamed the American Party in 1855 and commonly known as the Know Nothing movement , was an American nativist political party that operated nationally in the mid-1850s . It was primarily anti-Catholic , xenophobic and hostile to immigration , starting originally as a secret society . The movement briefly emerged as a major political party in the form of the American Party . Adherents to the movement were to reply `` I know nothing '' when asked about its specifics by outsiders , thus providing the group with its common name . </P>
<P> The Native American Party , renamed the American Party in 1855 and commonly known as the Know Nothing movement , was an American nativist political party that operated nationally in the mid-1850s . It was primarily anti-Catholic , xenophobic and hostile to immigration , starting originally as a secret society . The movement briefly emerged as a major political party in the form of the American Party . Adherents to the movement were to reply `` I know nothing '' when asked about its specifics by outsiders , thus providing the group with its common name . </P>
who were the know nothings and what did they stand for
who were the know nothings and what did they stand for
an American nativist political party that operated nationally in the mid-1850s primarily anti-Catholic , xenophobic and hostile to immigration
an American nativist political party that operated nationally in the mid-1850s primarily anti-Catholic , xenophobic and hostile to immigration