Between 1846 and 1854, over 50,000 Irish Immigrants arrived in Boston, fleeing the disastrus potato famine and setting off the first large anti-immigrant movement, including attempts to restrict voting.
“To Americanize America.”
“Know Nothing” Governor Henry J. Gardner presenting his goals to the Massachusetts legislature, 1855
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One of several versions of the Know Nothing flag.
One of several versions of the "Know Nothing flag".
Wikimedia Commons
The Know Nothings
An anti-immigrant party (called the
Know Nothings because they claimed
to know nothing about their secret
activities) swept the 1854 state
elections. Among other things, they
proposed making immigrants wait
21 years before voting, since native
born voters had to wait until the age
of 21. An attempted constitutional
amendment to that effect failed. The
party faded when issues leading to the
Civil War took center stage.
Know Something about the Know Nothings
In 1854, the Know Nothings (officially the American Party), captured the office of Governor, all other state-wide offices, all state senate seats, and all but three seats in the House of Representatives. They took down Latin inscriptions at the State House (in part because they associated them with the Roman Catholic Church) and deported some Irish immigrants. Stereotyping immigrants, they proposed restrictions on the sale of alcohol (while some legislators submitted expense accounts for alcohol on fact finding junkets).
An 1852 ad for “The American Patriot”.
This 1852 ad for “The American Patriot,” a Boston based newspaper, summarizes the Know Nothing program, including restrictions on voting.
Library of Congress
An 1882 Puck cartoon
This 1882 Puck cartoon, years after the height of the Know Nothing movement, reflects continuing concern about immigration. All are poor while the Irish immigrant is most disruptive.
Library of Congress
Poll Tax
Many associate the poll tax with efforts to suppress the African-American vote in the South. The poll tax existed in Massachusetts as a funding source into the 1960s. Henry David Thoreau spent one night in jail for refusing to pay the tax in protest against slavery and the Mexican War. Poll taxers were abolished by the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Governor Henry J. Gardner’s Address to the Massachusetts Legislature, 1855. “To purify and ennoble the elective franchise…to Americanize America.”
- Massachusetts Archives
“To purify and ennoble the elective franchise…to Americanize America.”
Massachusetts Archives