Understanding the Success of the Know-Nothing Party

Marcella Alsan (), Katherine Eriksson () and Gregory Niemesh

No 28078, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We study the contribution of economic conditions to the success of the first avowedly nativist political party in the United States. The Know-Nothing Party gained control of a number of state governments in the 1854-1856 elections running on a staunchly anti-Catholic and anti-Irish platform. Our analysis focuses on the case of Massachusetts, which had experienced a wave of Irish Famine immigration and was at the forefront of industrialization in the United States. Voters in towns with more exposure to Irish labor market crowdout and deskilling in manufacturing were more likely to vote for Know-Nothing candidates in state elections. These two forces played a decisive role in 1855, but not the other years of the Know Nothings’ success. We find evidence of reduced wealth accumulation for native workers most exposed to labor market crowdout and deskilling, though this was tempered by occupational upgrading.

JEL-codes: J01 J1 J15 J71 N12 N32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cdm, nep-his, nep-lab and nep-pol
Note: DAE DEV LS POL
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Working Paper: Understanding the Success of the Know-Nothing Party (2020)
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