American Party (Noun)
Meaning
A former political party in the United States; active in the 1850s to keep power out of the hands of immigrants and Roman Catholics.
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Examples
- The American Party, also known as the Know Nothing Party, was a major force in the 1850s US politics, fueled by anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic sentiments.
- The American Party's rise to power was swift, with many of its candidates winning local and state elections in the mid-1850s.
- The party's platform, which included restricting immigration and limiting the rights of Roman Catholics, resonated with many native-born Americans who felt threatened by the influx of immigrants.
- Despite its initial success, the American Party ultimately failed to achieve its goals and dissolved in the late 1850s, as the issue of slavery became a more pressing concern for the nation.
- The legacy of the American Party continues to be felt in modern US politics, with some historians drawing parallels between its anti-immigrant rhetoric and that of contemporary politicians.