CLEP US History I

Answer: C - The Know-Nothing Party stemmed from the Nativist movement, which sought to favor native-born Americans over immigrants. The party began as a semi-secret society, the Order of the Star-Spangled Banner, with lodges across the US. When members were asked about the society, they were supposed to say that they “knew nothing,” leading to the name. It became politically visible in the 1850s and swept elections from Massachusetts to Nebraska. It was less popular in the West, where immigrant labor was needed to fuel the rapid development of the region.