<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> <P> The collapse of the Whig Party after the passage of the Kansas - Nebraska Act left an opening for the emergence of a new major party in opposition to the Democrats . The Know Nothings elected Congressman Nathaniel P. Banks of Massachusetts and several other individuals in the 1854 elections and created a new party organization known as the American Party . Particularly in the South, the American Party served as a vehicle for politicians opposed to the Democratic Party . Many also hoped that it would seek a middle ground between the pro-slavery positions of many Democratic politicians and the anti-slavery positions of the emerging Republican Party . The American Party nominated former President Millard Fillmore in the 1856 presidential election, although he kept quiet about his membership . Fillmore received 21.5% of the popular vote in the 1856 presidential election, finishing behind the Democratic and Republican nominees . </P>

Who did the know nothing party appeal to