A movement of this kind swept over the country after the Presidential election of 1852.
It had nearly spent its force by 1856.

It made little headway at the South, except in two or three States.

There was a struggle with it in Virginia, where it was defeated by the superhuman energy of Henry A.Wise.

The party organized for the purpose of excluding men of foreign birth from any share in the Government, sometimes called the American Party, was generally called the Know-Nothing Party, a name which came from the answer each member was expected to make to any inquiry from an outsider, "I know nothing about it." This party swept Massachusetts in the autumn of 1854.

It elected in that year Governor, Lieutenant Governor, all the officers of the State Government, every member of both Houses of the Legislature, except two from the town of Northampton, and every member of Congress.