Talk:Know Nothing

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In my own opinion, I am not entirely sure which one the Know Nothings fit into, though I am personally leaning towards Christian nationalist. While the Know Nothings were far more sympathetic to Americans of English decent, it seems as the basis for their discrimination was more focused on whether or not one was a Catholic or a Protestant. I think this expressed in the fact that the party's leader, Lewis Charles Levin, was an American Jew who never converted from his Jewish faith but who also proclaimed that public office was a Protestant duty. Though if there is anyone with a good reason as to why "ethnonationalism" is listed in the ideology section, I'd be glad to concede. I just personally understand Know Nothingism to be more anti-Catholic than ethnically anti-Irish (if it was only anti-Irish, why did they also target German and even Chinese immigrants at times?). It also might be stated that these two categories are not mutually exclusive, though I would still argue that the conspiracy theories about a second Vatican in Cincinnati might have more to do with their beliefs being religiously sectarian than ethnically driven. I would also argue the large number of early Republicans, including the leader of the abolitionist, racially integrationist, and hardline reconstructionist Radical Republicans, Thaddeus Stevens, having been former Know Nothings, undermines the argument the Know Nothings were ethnonationalists.— Preceding unsigned comment added by MagyarNavy1918 (talk • contribs) 19:39, 3 July 2024 (UTC)Reply

The know nothing move ment was not a political party but a movement within the Democratic party. That would be like saying the trans perons that shot up that catholic school was part of the lgbtq+ political party their is no such thing. Jhon wilkes booth was a democrat that belonged to the know nothing movement. You need to correct that its misinformation. 2603:6011:8F00:5324:ADAA:8C90:2350:1775 (talk) 04:20, 15 July 2024 (UTC)Reply

Please rewrite this for the sake of clarity. No one knows what you are talking about.

In any case, the Know Nothings acted a lot like an independent political party. They had their own political organization, they campaigned, they had close connections with underground anti-immigrant groups they even ran former president Millard Filmore as their own separate candidate in the 1856 United States presidential election, who ended up winning the electoral votes from the State of Maryland. As for John Wilkes Booth, it seems merely as he was a deeply hateful and xenophobic man, who hated Black Americans as much as he hated Catholics and immigrants, and thus hated the man who had freed them from bondage MagyarNavy1918 (talk) 14:46, 24 July 2024 (UTC)Reply

Okay curiously, if the Know Nothing's acted as a party, shouldn't we clarify the title by renaming it Know Nothing Party, or the Know Nothing's (Political Party)? Just a thought is all. Defnotsasuke (talk) 18:40, 3 October 2024 (UTC)Reply

No, per WP:COMMON we use Know Nothing(s) because it is how the American Party (or earlier Native American Party) is most commonly referred to. —Carter (Tcr25) (talk) 16:06, 4 October 2024 (UTC)Reply

Oh okay, I understand Defnotsasuke (talk) 17:09, 7 October 2024 (UTC)Reply

Not every political party has the word "party" in its name. In the UK, the Liberal Democrats are a political party, but they don't have the word "party" in their name. This is not good reasoning honestly. 140.141.4.72 (talk) 22:54, 7 October 2024 (UTC)Reply

It was a simple suggestion as well as a question, I was curious and just wanted an answer :) Defnotsasuke (talk) 17:45, 8 October 2024 (UTC)Reply

I reverted the undiscussed move. The given reason for the move (WP:COMMONNAME) is not borne out for me. "Know Nothing Party" gets me 151,000 results. "Native American Party" gets me only 52,000 results. We go by Commonname, not official name. Please use the WP:RM procedure for anything likely to be contested or controversial. Bastun^{Ėġáḍβáś₮ŭŃ!} 13:58, 6 July 2025 (UTC)Reply

I agree there was no basis for this move. I have no issue with the reversion. I'll be happy to move protect this page if it is moved again without discussion. BusterD (talk) 15:11, 6 July 2025 (UTC)Reply

Thanks, and adding agreement. Any such move would have to be discussed, and I honestly I would expect it to fail. They are commonly known as the Know Nothings. CAVincent (talk) 18:25, 6 July 2025 (UTC)Reply

Yep. This sort of move has been previously discussed in 2006 and 2023 and rightly rejected. —Carter (Tcr25) (talk) 00:29, 7 July 2025 (UTC)Reply

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation–supported course assignment, between 23 August 2025 and 17 December 2025. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Bobs-username (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Bobs-username (talk) 12:04, 10 September 2025 (UTC)Reply