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== Politics and Rhetoric ==

Predominantly staunch Democratic supporters, Irish born residents of the northern states had little inkling to support the newly formed Republican Party. During the early 1850s, the then dominant Whig party split into factions based primarily on the attitude toward European-Catholic immigrants. Due to the rise in immigration rates, there was a resurgence in nativist parties popping up throughout the country; the most prominent being the Know Nothings. This group was initiated begun by nativist Protestants as an exclusive society. When asked about the events that took place during the secret meetings of the society, members simply replied, “‘I know nothing.’”<ref>James McPherson, ''Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era'' (New York: Oxford University Press, 1988), 135</ref>The primary purpose of the party was to curtail the power of the immigrant vote. They were outspoken in their prejudice of immigrants and took every opportunity to promote nativism through the media. Theodore Parker, a prominent Protestant from New England, openly declared that, “‘The Irish are ignorant…idle, thriftless, poor, intemperate, and barbarian.’”<ref>Jay P. Dolan, ''The Irish Americans: A History'' (New York: Bloomsbury Press, 2008), 62.</ref>Most Irishmen in the U.S. were well aware of the prejudices and hatred directed at them by the Know Nothings and welcomed support from any source. Overall, the majority of backing came from southern Democrats, including Mississippi Representative Jefferson Davis.