He says the Kansas-Nebraska Act is perhaps the single most important law passed by Congress. The Act was disputed because it replaced a previous law that banned slavery forever in the territories. The Act said settlers in Kansas and Nebraska could decide for themselves whether they wanted slavery to be legal. The other party, the Republican Party, formed after Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854. When asked, they said, "I know nothing." And that is how the organization got its name. Party members did not want to admit they belonged to the group. The Know-Nothings were especially concerned about the rising number of Catholic immigrants. Party members feared too many people from other countries were coming to live in the United States.
It began as a secret, anti-immigrant organization. Two other major parties of the time also proposed presidential candidates. The 1856 election was the first time an American political party did not nominate a president who wanted to seek reelection.Ī Secret, Anti-Immigrant Party Challenges the Democrats Franklin Pierce would not be president again. Their meeting was the first time a political party held its national convention that far west.Īfter several days of voting, James Buchanan received the party’s nomination. The Democratic Party leadership met in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. Buchanan had a long political career as a congressman, senator and secretary of state. Pierce’s main opponent was James Buchanan of Pennsylvania. Many in his own party said they would nominate “anybody but Pierce.” Other Democrats did not think he was the strongest candidate. Many northern Democrats, however, objected to his support of a pro-slavery legislature in Kansas. Pierce wanted to be reelected for a second term.
Their leader, President Franklin Pierce, held the White House. The Democrats were the main party at the time. Disputes over the legalization of slavery turned violent. Some wanted to make slavery legal in Kansas. For several years, settlers in Kansas struggled over whether to permit slavery. The election of 1856 focused on the issue of slavery in Kansas territory.
From VOA Learning English, this is The Making of a Nation.
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