Article by George H. Haynes takes a look at the career of the Worcester (Massachusetts) Council of the American Party. As page images or scanned text. [The New England Magazine]

1856 book by Thomas R. Whitney seeks to warn native-born Americans of the danger of Roman Catholic influence. Chronicles the rise of the Know-Nothings, particularly in New York. Page images.

At a distance of four decades, George H. Haynes looks back on the Massachusetts state legislature of 1855, in which a secret political organization had won more than 90 percent of the seats. Searchable page images. [The New England Magazine]

1855 book by Thomas Bangs Thorpe is an apologia for the American Party. Searchable page images.

Adopted by the American Party at its 1856 convention in Philadelphia.

William Gannaway Brownlow's book tries to stir native voters to the cause of the American Party in the election year 1856. Searchable page images.

Short article on the secret society in Massachusetts, where its political might was strongest.

Know-Nothing thugs used violent and intimidating tactics in 1850s Baltimore on election days. [Baltimore City Paper]

Article on the 19th-century nativist party and movement.

Image of handwritten ritual for swearing in a new member. Also some background information on the party.

Article on this nineteenth-century anti-immigration and anti-Catholic political party.

Article on the Know-Nothings in Texas.

Article on the Know-Nothings, some of their prominent members, and their fear that the Vatican planned to take Cincinnati by military force.

Image of handwritten four-point party platform.

An explanation for older kids of why some Americans in the nineteenth century started the Know-Nothing Party.

Lengthy critical article on the allure of the Know-Nothings. Searchable page images. [The United States Democratic Review]

Article from the Catholic Encyclopedia on the 1850s anti-immigrant movement.

Points out that the party varied from state to state, and suggests that it was fundamentally a Unionist party hoping to combat the Democrats on some other issue than slavery.

Short article on the Know-Nothings and their activities in Ohio.

Letter by Abraham Lincoln written August 24, 1855.

1855 book warns of a foreign Catholic conspiracy to eradicate American liberty. Searchable page images.

Also some information on the party's activities and influence in Kentucky.

Feature on this nineteenth-century anti-immigrant and anti-Roman Catholic political party.

The rise of the Know-Nothings marked the demise of the two-party system of the mid-nineteenth century, and was followed by regional political parties.

Although the Know-Nothings may seem at first glance to be entirely novel, this article seeks out the political lineage of the dark-lantern organization. Searchable page images. [The United States Democratic Review]

Essay by a high school student on the factors which led to the party's demise. In WordPad format.

For teens. Although this political party didn't last for even ten years, its story can show something about America today.

Broadside posted in 1854 in Washington, D.C., to combat the rumor that Archbishop Hughes (of New York) was in town to control foreign and Catholic votes.

1854 booklet by Know-Nothing L.W. Granger urges Americans to preserve the Protestant character of the public schools and to safeguard the ballot box from control by foreigners. Searchable page images.

Encyclopedia-style article on this nativist movement. Includes the platform of the American Party.