calsfoundation@cals.org
October 24, 2006
The Know-Nothing Party, the anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant political party of the 1850s, saw some early success in the state, especially in Little Rock (Pulaski County), but with a small population of Catholics and immigrants in the state to rally against, the party quickly faded. Calls for repealing all naturalization laws, allowing none but those born in America to serve in governmental office, are clearly stated in planks one and two of its 1856 presidential party platform.