USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Know Nothing party was a nativist political party and movement in the United States in the mid-1850s. The party was officially known as the “Native American Party” prior to 1855 and thereafter, it was simply known as the “American Party".

Detailed explanation-2: -The party received its unusual name from the fact that when members were asked about the organization, they were supposed to reply “I know nothing.” By the mid 1850s, the Know-Nothings had grown in popularity and adopted their official name, the American Party.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Know Nothings filled the power void before the Whigs had even ceased to exist, choosing to ignore slavery and focus all their energy on the immigrant question. They were the first party to leverage economic concerns over immigration as a major part of their platform.