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Know-Nothing Riots in United States politics

January 01, 1970

The term Know-Nothing Riot has been used to refer to a number of political uprisings of the Know Nothing Party in the United States of the mid-19th century. These anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic protests culminated into riots in Philadelphia in 1844; St. Louis in 1854, Cincinnati and Louisville in 1855; Baltimore in 1856; Washington, D.C., and New York City in 1857; and New Orleans in 1858.

Philadelphia Nativist Riots of 1844, with nativists (center) fighting the militia (left)

Philadelphia 1844 edit

Main article: Philadelphia nativist riots

The Philadelphia nativist riots took place on May 6—8 and July 6—7, 1844, in Philadelphia, and the adjacent suburbs of Kensington and Southwark. The riots were a result of rising anti-Catholic sentiment at the growing population of Irish Catholic immigrants. The government brought in over a thousand militia—they confronted the nativist mobs and killed or wounded hundreds of anti-Catholic rioters.

In the five months leading to the riots, nativist groups had been spreading a false rumor that Catholics were trying to remove the Bible from public schools. A nativist rally in Kensington erupted in violence on May 6 and started a deadly riot that would result in the destruction of two Catholic churches and numerous other buildings. Riots erupted again in July after it was discovered that St. Philip Neri's Catholic Church in Southwark had armed itself for protection. Fierce fighting broke out between the nativists and the soldiers sent to protect the church, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. Two of the 13 Catholic churches were burned. The Catholic Church sued the city and won some money for repairs. Civic leaders deplored the nativist attacks. Nationally, the riots helped fuel criticism of the nativist movement, despite denials of responsibility from nativist groups. The riots exposed deficiencies in law enforcement in Philadelphia and the surrounding districts, influencing various reforms in local police departments and the eventual consolidation of the city in 1854.[1]

St. Louis 1854 edit

In August 1854 a major election riot exploded in St. Louis, Missouri, a city of 95,000 population. It was caused by the escalation of tensions between Irish Catholic Democrats and the anti-immigrant Know-Nothing movement. Violence came when Know-Nothing activists brought a local judge to the polls and he rejected Irishmen who could not prove their citizenship. Fighting broke out across the inner city, and ended only when 500 armed state militia took control. Ten men were killed and 33 wounded; 93 buildings were damaged by arson. The episode reflected multiple forces at work, including rapid immigration from Europe, the success of local Irish politicians, the nationwide nativist movement, the policies of Democratic Mayor John How, and the bitterly fought contest for House of Representatives between Whig Luther Martin Kennett and Democrat Thomas Hart Benton.[2][3]

 
The Cincinnati Nativist Riots of 1855

Cincinnati 1855 edit

The Election Day Riots of 1855 occurred in Cincinnati between April 2–7, 1855. The election was between James J. Faran, the Democratic contender and editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer, and James D. Taylor, rabid nativist editor of the Cincinnati Times. Rumors of illegal voting, ballot-box stuffing, and naturalized voters preventing native-born citizens from voting sparked the events.[4][5]

 
Louisville Bloody Monday Election Riots of 1855

Louisville 1855 edit

Main article: Bloody Monday

Bloody Monday was a series of riots on August 6, 1855, in Louisville, Kentucky, an election day, when Protestant mobs attacked Irish and German Catholic neighborhoods. These riots grew out of the bitter rivalry between the Democrats and the Nativist Know-Nothing Party. Multiple street fights raged, leaving twenty-two people dead, scores injured, and much property destroyed by fire. Five people were later indicted, but none were convicted, and the victims were not compensated.[6]

Baltimore 1856 edit

Main article: Baltimore Know-Nothing riots of 1856

The riots occurred in Baltimore, Maryland between September and November of that presidential election year. The Know-Nothing Party gained traction in Baltimore as native-born residents feared the rapidly growing Irish and German immigrant population. Local street gangs became divided on political grounds, with the Know-Nothing affiliated gangs clashing with gangs affiliated with the Democratic Party. The partisans were involved in widespread violence at the polls and across Baltimore during municipal and national elections. [7][8]

 
Washington. D.C. Election Riot of 1857

Washington D.C. 1857 edit

Know-Nothing associated gang, the Plug Uglies, had travelled to Washington. D.C.. from Baltimore on June 1, 1857, in an attempt to prevent German and Irish immigrants from voting in the local election. The Plug Uglies linked up with allied members of the Rip Raps and the Chunkers and moved to Mount Vernon Square to harass anti-Know Nothing voters. They then returned to the square armed with pistols, clubs, bricks, and other weapons and charged into the crowd of voters. A brutal fight broke out which the police were unable to stop and by noon, President Buchanan had called out two companies of Marines to stop the riot. By the time the Marines arrived at Mount Vernon Square, the Know-Nothings had set up a barricade and were armed with a cannon they had taken from the Navy Yard. Archibald Henderson, Commandant of the Marine Corps, marched up to the cannon and placed his body in front of it so it could not be aimed at his men. This allowed the Marines to advance on their position, but a fire fight soon broke out. Eight people were killed by the end of the day and at least 15 were injured.[9][10]

 
The New York City Dead Rabbits Riot of 1857

New York City 1857 edit

Main article: Dead Rabbits riot

New Orleans 1858 edit

The New Orleans Know-Nothing group began as a local movement in 1858 to reduce what residents considered a high rate of crime and violence in the city, primarily among Irish and German immigrants, who were among the poorest classes. A secret Vigilance Committee was formed to monitor their activities, and in particular to prevent disruption of upcoming municipal elections.

On the night of June 2, 1858, armed men under the command of Capt. J.K. Duncan, an officer in the United States Army, marched to Jackson Square and occupied the court rooms in The Cabildo. For the next five days, a standoff existed between the Vigilance Committee and members of the Native American Party. On June 7, the elections were held and the Native American candidate, Gerard Stith, defeated the Democratic Party candidate, P.G.T. Beauregard. The Vigilance Committee disbanded with no further violence.[11]

Notable Know Nothing criminal gang rioters edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Patrick Grubbs, "Riots (1830s and 1840s)" Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia (2018)
  2. ^ Luke Ritter, "The St. Louis Know-Nothing Riot of 1854: Political Violence and the Rise of the Irish." Gateway Heritage Magazine 32 (2012): 27-35.
  3. ^ James Neal Primm, Lion of the Valley: St. Louis, Missouri, 1764-1980 (1998) pp. 175-179.
  4. ^ Alfred G. Stritch, "Political Nativism in Cincinnati, 1830-1860." Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia 48.3 (1937): 227-278. online
  5. ^ William E. Gienapp, The Origins of the Republican Party, 1852–1856 (1978),
  6. ^ Wallace S. Hutcheon Jr.. "The Louisville Riots of August, 1855" Register of the Kentucky Historical Society 69#2 (1971) pp.150–72. online
  7. ^ Benjamin R. Tuska, "Know-Nothingism in Baltimore 1854-1860". Catholic Historical Review (1925) 11 (2): 217–251 online
  8. ^ Frank Towers, "Violence as a tool of party dominance: election riots and the Baltimore know-nothings, 1854-1860." Maryland Historical Magazine 93 (1998): 5-37.
  9. ^ "The Election Day Riot of 1857, driven by religious intolerance". 15 December 2015. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  10. ^ Proctor, John Clagett (1932-09-25). "Account of 1857 riot". Evening star. p. 75. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  11. ^ "New-Orleans Vigilance Committee - Tems of Settlements", nytimes.com, June 4, 1858.

Further reading edit

Further information: Nativism (politics) in the United States § Bibliography
  • Anbinder, Tyler. "Nativism and prejudice against immigrants," in A companion to American immigration, ed. by Reed Ueda (2006) pp. 177–201 online excerpt
  • Baker, Jean H. (1977), Ambivalent Americans: The Know-Nothing Party in Maryland, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins.
  • Bennett, David H. The Party of Fear: From Nativist Movements to the New Right in American History (1988) online
  • Billington, Ray A. The Protestant Crusade, 1800–1860: A Study of the Origins of American Nativism (1938), standard scholarly survey; online
  • Boissoneault, Lorraine. "How the 19th-Century Know Nothing Party Reshaped American Politics." Smithsonian Magazine (2017), heavily illustrated with editorial cartoons. online
  • Farrelly, Maura Jane. Anti-Catholicism in America, 1620–1860 (Cambridge University Press, 2017) .
  • Gienapp, William E. "Nativism and the Creation of a Republican Majority in the North before the Civil War," Journal of American History, Vol. 72, No. 3 (Dec., 1985), pp. 529–559 in JSTOR
  • Gienapp, William E. The Origins of the Republican Party, 1852–1856 (1978), detailed statistical study, state-by-state, with extensive coverage of local elections
  • Haebler, Peter. "Nativist Riots in Manchester: An Episode of Know-Nothingism in New Hampshire." Historical New Hampshire 39 (1985): 121–37.
  • Holt, Michael F. "The Antimasonic and Know Nothing Parties", in Arthur Schlesinger Jr., ed., History of United States Political Parties (1973), I, 575–620.
  • Lee, Erika. America for Americans: A history of xenophobia in the United States (Basic Books, 2019) online.
  • McGreevey, John T. Catholicism and American Freedom: A History (W. W. Norton, 2003)
  • Maizlish, Stephen E. "The Meaning of Nativism and the Crisis of the Union: The Know-Nothing Movement in the Antebellum North." in William Gienapp, ed. Essays on American Antebellum Politics, 1840–1860 (1982) pp. 166–98
  • Melton, Tracy Matthew (2005). Hanging Henry Gambrill: The Violent Career of Baltimore's Plug Uglies, 1854-1860. Maryland Historical Society. ISBN 0938420933.
  • Mulkern, John R. The Know-Nothing Party in Massachusetts: The Rise and Fall of a People's Movement. Boston: Northeastern UP, 1990. excerpt
  • Ramet, Sabrina P., and Christine M. Hassenstab. "The Know Nothing Party: Three Theories about its Rise and Demise." Politics and Religion 6.3 (2013): 570–595.
  • Smith, John Kendall (1922). A History of New Orleans. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co.
  • Voss-Hubbard, Mark. Beyond Party: Cultures of Antipartisanship in Northern Politics before the Civil War (2002)
  • Wilentz, Sean. The Rise of American Democracy. (2005); ISBN 0-393-05820-4


January 01, 1970
know, nothing, riots, united, states, politics, term, know, nothing, riot, been, used, refer, number, political, uprisings, know, nothing, party, united, states, 19th, century, these, anti, immigrant, anti, catholic, protests, culminated, into, riots, philadel. The term Know Nothing Riot has been used to refer to a number of political uprisings of the Know Nothing Party in the United States of the mid 19th century These anti immigrant and anti Catholic protests culminated into riots in Philadelphia in 1844 St Louis in 1854 Cincinnati and Louisville in 1855 Baltimore in 1856 Washington D C and New York City in 1857 and New Orleans in 1858 Philadelphia Nativist Riots of 1844 with nativists center fighting the militia left Contents 1 Philadelphia 1844 2 St Louis 1854 3 Cincinnati 1855 4 Louisville 1855 5 Baltimore 1856 6 Washington D C 1857 7 New York City 1857 8 New Orleans 1858 9 Notable Know Nothing criminal gang rioters 10 See also 11 References 12 Further readingPhiladelphia 1844 editMain article Philadelphia nativist riots The Philadelphia nativist riots took place on May 6 8 and July 6 7 1844 in Philadelphia and the adjacent suburbs of Kensington and Southwark The riots were a result of rising anti Catholic sentiment at the growing population of Irish Catholic immigrants The government brought in over a thousand militia they confronted the nativist mobs and killed or wounded hundreds of anti Catholic rioters In the five months leading to the riots nativist groups had been spreading a false rumor that Catholics were trying to remove the Bible from public schools A nativist rally in Kensington erupted in violence on May 6 and started a deadly riot that would result in the destruction of two Catholic churches and numerous other buildings Riots erupted again in July after it was discovered that St Philip Neri s Catholic Church in Southwark had armed itself for protection Fierce fighting broke out between the nativists and the soldiers sent to protect the church resulting in numerous deaths and injuries Two of the 13 Catholic churches were burned The Catholic Church sued the city and won some money for repairs Civic leaders deplored the nativist attacks Nationally the riots helped fuel criticism of the nativist movement despite denials of responsibility from nativist groups The riots exposed deficiencies in law enforcement in Philadelphia and the surrounding districts influencing various reforms in local police departments and the eventual consolidation of the city in 1854 1 St Louis 1854 editIn August 1854 a major election riot exploded in St Louis Missouri a city of 95 000 population It was caused by the escalation of tensions between Irish Catholic Democrats and the anti immigrant Know Nothing movement Violence came when Know Nothing activists brought a local judge to the polls and he rejected Irishmen who could not prove their citizenship Fighting broke out across the inner city and ended only when 500 armed state militia took control Ten men were killed and 33 wounded 93 buildings were damaged by arson The episode reflected multiple forces at work including rapid immigration from Europe the success of local Irish politicians the nationwide nativist movement the policies of Democratic Mayor John How and the bitterly fought contest for House of Representatives between Whig Luther Martin Kennett and Democrat Thomas Hart Benton 2 3 nbsp The Cincinnati Nativist Riots of 1855Cincinnati 1855 editThe Election Day Riots of 1855 occurred in Cincinnati between April 2 7 1855 The election was between James J Faran the Democratic contender and editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer and James D Taylor rabid nativist editor of the Cincinnati Times Rumors of illegal voting ballot box stuffing and naturalized voters preventing native born citizens from voting sparked the events 4 5 nbsp Louisville Bloody Monday Election Riots of 1855Louisville 1855 editMain article Bloody Monday Bloody Monday was a series of riots on August 6 1855 in Louisville Kentucky an election day when Protestant mobs attacked Irish and German Catholic neighborhoods These riots grew out of the bitter rivalry between the Democrats and the Nativist Know Nothing Party Multiple street fights raged leaving twenty two people dead scores injured and much property destroyed by fire Five people were later indicted but none were convicted and the victims were not compensated 6 Baltimore 1856 editMain article Baltimore Know Nothing riots of 1856 The riots occurred in Baltimore Maryland between September and November of that presidential election year The Know Nothing Party gained traction in Baltimore as native born residents feared the rapidly growing Irish and German immigrant population Local street gangs became divided on political grounds with the Know Nothing affiliated gangs clashing with gangs affiliated with the Democratic Party The partisans were involved in widespread violence at the polls and across Baltimore during municipal and national elections 7 8 nbsp Washington D C Election Riot of 1857Washington D C 1857 editKnow Nothing associated gang the Plug Uglies had travelled to Washington D C from Baltimore on June 1 1857 in an attempt to prevent German and Irish immigrants from voting in the local election The Plug Uglies linked up with allied members of the Rip Raps and the Chunkers and moved to Mount Vernon Square to harass anti Know Nothing voters They then returned to the square armed with pistols clubs bricks and other weapons and charged into the crowd of voters A brutal fight broke out which the police were unable to stop and by noon President Buchanan had called out two companies of Marines to stop the riot By the time the Marines arrived at Mount Vernon Square the Know Nothings had set up a barricade and were armed with a cannon they had taken from the Navy Yard Archibald Henderson Commandant of the Marine Corps marched up to the cannon and placed his body in front of it so it could not be aimed at his men This allowed the Marines to advance on their position but a fire fight soon broke out Eight people were killed by the end of the day and at least 15 were injured 9 10 nbsp The New York City Dead Rabbits Riot of 1857New York City 1857 editMain article Dead Rabbits riotNew Orleans 1858 editThe New Orleans Know Nothing group began as a local movement in 1858 to reduce what residents considered a high rate of crime and violence in the city primarily among Irish and German immigrants who were among the poorest classes A secret Vigilance Committee was formed to monitor their activities and in particular to prevent disruption of upcoming municipal elections On the night of June 2 1858 armed men under the command of Capt J K Duncan an officer in the United States Army marched to Jackson Square and occupied the court rooms in The Cabildo For the next five days a standoff existed between the Vigilance Committee and members of the Native American Party On June 7 the elections were held and the Native American candidate Gerard Stith defeated the Democratic Party candidate P G T Beauregard The Vigilance Committee disbanded with no further violence 11 Notable Know Nothing criminal gang rioters editAmerican Guards New York City Atlantic Guards New York City Blood Tubs Baltimore and Philadelphia Bowery Boys New York City Killers Philadelphia O Connell Guards New York City Plug Uglies Baltimore Philadelphia and New York City Rip Raps Baltimore Roach Guards New York City Shifflers Philadelphia See also editKnow Nothing Party Anti Catholicism in the United States List of incidents of civil unrest in the United StatesReferences edit Patrick Grubbs Riots 1830s and 1840s Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia 2018 Luke Ritter The St Louis Know Nothing Riot of 1854 Political Violence and the Rise of the Irish Gateway Heritage Magazine 32 2012 27 35 James Neal Primm Lion of the Valley St Louis Missouri 1764 1980 1998 pp 175 179 Alfred G Stritch Political Nativism in Cincinnati 1830 1860 Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia 48 3 1937 227 278 online William E Gienapp The Origins of the Republican Party 1852 1856 1978 Wallace S Hutcheon Jr The Louisville Riots of August 1855 Register of the Kentucky Historical Society 69 2 1971 pp 150 72 online Benjamin R Tuska Know Nothingism in Baltimore 1854 1860 Catholic Historical Review 1925 11 2 217 251 online Frank Towers Violence as a tool of party dominance election riots and the Baltimore know nothings 1854 1860 Maryland Historical Magazine 93 1998 5 37 The Election Day Riot of 1857 driven by religious intolerance 15 December 2015 Retrieved 2021 12 08 Proctor John Clagett 1932 09 25 Account of 1857 riot Evening star p 75 Retrieved 2023 12 29 New Orleans Vigilance Committee Tems of Settlements nytimes com June 4 1858 Further reading editFurther information Nativism politics in the United States Bibliography Anbinder Tyler Nativism and prejudice against immigrants in A companion to American immigration ed by Reed Ueda 2006 pp 177 201 online excerpt Baker Jean H 1977 Ambivalent Americans The Know Nothing Party in Maryland Baltimore Johns Hopkins Bennett David H The Party of Fear From Nativist Movements to the New Right in American History 1988 online Billington Ray A The Protestant Crusade 1800 1860 A Study of the Origins of American Nativism 1938 standard scholarly survey online Boissoneault Lorraine How the 19th Century Know Nothing Party Reshaped American Politics Smithsonian Magazine 2017 heavily illustrated with editorial cartoons online Farrelly Maura Jane Anti Catholicism in America 1620 1860 Cambridge University Press 2017 Gienapp William E Nativism and the Creation of a Republican Majority in the North before the Civil War Journal of American History Vol 72 No 3 Dec 1985 pp 529 559 in JSTOR Gienapp William E The Origins of the Republican Party 1852 1856 1978 detailed statistical study state by state with extensive coverage of local elections Haebler Peter Nativist Riots in Manchester An Episode of Know Nothingism in New Hampshire Historical New Hampshire 39 1985 121 37 Holt Michael F The Antimasonic and Know Nothing Parties in Arthur Schlesinger Jr ed History of United States Political Parties 1973 I 575 620 Lee Erika America for Americans A history of xenophobia in the United States Basic Books 2019 online McGreevey John T Catholicism and American Freedom A History W W Norton 2003 Maizlish Stephen E The Meaning of Nativism and the Crisis of the Union The Know Nothing Movement in the Antebellum North in William Gienapp ed Essays on American Antebellum Politics 1840 1860 1982 pp 166 98 Melton Tracy Matthew 2005 Hanging Henry Gambrill The Violent Career of Baltimore s Plug Uglies 1854 1860 Maryland Historical Society ISBN 0938420933 Mulkern John R The Know Nothing Party in Massachusetts The Rise and Fall of a People s Movement Boston Northeastern UP 1990 excerpt Ramet Sabrina P and Christine M Hassenstab The Know Nothing Party Three Theories about its Rise and Demise Politics and Religion 6 3 2013 570 595 Smith John Kendall 1922 A History of New Orleans Chicago Lewis Pub Co Voss Hubbard Mark Beyond Party Cultures of Antipartisanship in Northern Politics before the Civil War 2002 Wilentz Sean The Rise of American Democracy 2005 ISBN 0 393 05820 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Know Nothing Riots in United States politics amp oldid 1225861092, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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