Know-Nothing Riot

The term Know-Nothing Riot has been used to refer to a number of political uprisings of the Nativist American Know Nothing Party in the United States of America during the mid-19th century. These anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic protests culminated into riots in Philadelphia in 1844, St. Louis in 1854, Cincinnati and Louisville in 1855, Baltimore in 1856, Washington, D.C. and New York in 1857, and New Orleans in 1858.

Philadelphia Nativist Riots of 1844
The Cincinnati Nativist Riots of 1855
Louisville Bloody Monday Election Riots of 1855
Washington D.C. Election Riot of 1857
The New York City Dead Rabbits Riot of 1857

Know-Nothing Riots (1844-1858)

Cincinnati Riot

The Election Day Riots of 1855 occurred in Cincinnati between April 2-7, 1855. The election was between James J. Faran, the Democratic contender and editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer, and James D. Taylor, rabid nativist editor of the Cincinnati Times. Rumors of illegal voting, ballot-box stuffing, and naturalized voters preventing native-born citizens from voting sparked the events. [1]

Baltimore Riot

See Know-Nothing Riots of 1856

New Orleans Riot

The New Orleans Know-Nothing group began as a local movement in 1858 to reduce what residents considered a high rate of crime and violence in the city, primarily among Irish and German immigrants, who were among the poorest classes. A secret Vigilance Committee was formed to monitor their activities, and in particular to prevent disruption of upcoming municipal elections.

On the night of June 2, 1858, armed men under the command of Capt. J.K. Duncan, an officer in the United States Army, marched to Jackson Square and occupied the court rooms in The Cabildo. For the next five days, a standoff existed between the Vigilance Committee and members of the Native American Party. On June 7, the elections were held and the Native American candidate, Gerard Stith, defeated the Democratic Party candidate, P.G.T. Beauregard. The Vigilance Committee disbanded with no further violence.[2]

Notable Know Nothing criminal gang rioters

See also

References
  1. E., Gienapp, William (1987). The origins of the Republican Party, 1852-1856. Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana (Mississippi State University. Libraries). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195041003. OCLC 13425951.
  2. "New-Orleans Vigilance Committee - Tems of Settlements", nytimes.com, June 4, 1858.

Sources
  • Melton, Tracy Matthew (2005). Hanging Henry Gambrill: The Violent Career of Baltimore's Plug Uglies, 1854-1860. ISBN 0938420933.
  • Smith, John Kendall (1922). A History of New Orleans. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co.
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