In this Book
- The Know Nothings in Louisiana
- Book
- 2018
- Published by: University Press of Mississippi
summary
In the 1850s, a startling new political party appeared on the American scene. Both its members and its critics called the new party by various names, but to most it was known as the Know Nothing Party. It reignited political fires over nativism and anti-immigration sentiments. At a time of political uncertainty, with the Whig party on the verge of collapse, the Know Nothings seemed destined to replace them and perhaps become a political fixture.
Historian Marius M. Carriere Jr. tracks the rise and fall of the Know Nothing movement in Louisiana, outlining not only the history of the party as it is usually known, but also explaining how the party's unique permeation in Louisiana contrasted with the Know Nothings' expansion nationally and elsewhere in the South. For example, many Roman Catholics in the state joined the Know Nothings, even though the party was nationally known as anti-Catholic.
While historians have largely concentrated on the Know Nothings' success in the North, Carriere furnishes a new context for the evolution of a national political movement at odds with its Louisiana constituents. Through statistics on various elections and demographics of Louisiana politicians, Carriere forms a detailed account of Louisiana's Know Nothing Party. The national and rapidly changing Louisiana political landscape yielded surprising, credible leverage for the Know Nothing movement. Slavery, Carriere argues, also played a crucial difference between southern and northern Know Nothing ideals. Carriere delineates the eventual downfall of the Know Nothing Party, while offering new perspectives on a nativist movement, which has appeared once again in a changing, divided country.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Acknowledgments
- pp. ix-x
- Introduction
- pp. 3-8
- Two: Resurgence of Nativism: 1850–55
- pp. 29-46
- Five: Nativism Struggles: 1858–60
- pp. 108-128
- Appendix A
- pp. 134-142
- Appendix B
- pp. 143-158
- Appendix C
- pp. 159-161
- Appendix D
- pp. 162-163
- Bibliography
- pp. 204-214
Additional Information
ISBN
9781496816887
Related ISBN(s)
9781496816849
MARC Record
OCLC
1021063970
Pages
208
Launched on MUSE
2018-09-10
Language
English
Open Access
No