366 
THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM 
The “Native American” and “Know-Nothing” 
Movements 
The second period, from 1835 to i860, is sharply 
defined by the so-called “Native American” and 
“Know-Nothing” movements, which, as is generally 
known, were largely based on opposition to the immi 
gration of Roman Catholics. This hostility early in 
the thirties took the form of a political movement. 
In 1835 there was a Nativist candidate for Congress 
in New York City, and in the following year that 
party nominated a candidate for mayor of the same 
city. In Germantown, Pennsylvania, and in Washing 
ton, D. C., Nativist societies were formed in 1837, 
while in Louisiana the movement was organized in 
1839 and a State convention was held two years later 
at which the Native American party, under the name 
of the American Republican party, was established. 
The chief demands of this convention were a repeal 
of the naturalization laws and the appointment of 
only native Americans to office. 
While these societies were stronger in local than in 
National politics, and were organized chiefly to aid 
in controlling local affairs, the few representatives of 
the order in Congress attempted to make Nativism a 
National question. As a result of their efforts, the 
United States Senate, in 1836, agreed to a resolution 
directing the Secretary of State to collect certain in 
formation respecting the immigration of foreign pau 
pers and criminals.* In the House of Representatives, 
on February 19, 1838, a resolution was agreed to 
which provided that the Committee on the Judiciary 
be instructed to consider two questions: (1) the ex- 
* See Chapter IV, Social Effects of Immigration.