<Ul> <Li> Politics of United States </Li> <Li> Political parties </Li> <Li> Elections </Li> </Ul> <Li> Politics of United States </Li> <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 Know Nothings believed a "Romanist" conspiracy was afoot to subvert civil and religious liberty in the United States and sought to politically organize native - born Protestants in the defense of traditional religious and political values . It is remembered for this theme because of fears by Protestants that Catholic priests and bishops would control a large bloc of voters . In most places, Know Nothingism lasted only a year or two before disintegrating because of weak local leaders, few publicly declared national leaders and a deep split over the issue of slavery . In the South, the party did not emphasize anti-Catholicism, but was the main alternative to the dominant Democratic Party . </P>

Who were the know nothings and what did they stand for