AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Nativism (Day 126/309)

Hey APUSHers, let’s chat about Nativism in Period 5 as part of my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

Total Immigrants By Decade, Scholastic

With the rapid rise of international immigration and the changing demographics of those migrants, nativist opposition rose to limit the power and influence of non-native born Americans.

Throwing Down the Ladder, Britannica

In the West, especially, the Chinese experienced xenophobia through violence and race-based discrimination as whites resisted economic competition in the mines, railroads, and other industries.

The American River Ganges, Thomas Nast

In the 19th century, Americans viewed the Irish as an inferior race and were hostile to their Catholic beliefs. Since many Irish migrated due to the potato famine, they were poor which increased American resentment toward their resettlement in the U.S.

Know Nothing Party Flag, Wikimedia Commons

The growth of nativist attitudes found a home with a new political party, the Know-Nothing Party. With its anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant platform, they advocated for restrictions on immigration, exclusions from political power, and barriers to citizenship.

During the 19th century, several factors led to a massive growth in immigration to the U.S. In response, many Americans supported discriminatory policies to maintain Protestant, Anglo-Saxon superiority.

Join me tomorrow as I explain the Free-Soil Movement in the next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!