American Party
- proper noun
- US
:
Partido Americano
- The American Party was also known as the Know-Nothing movement in the mid-19th century.
Examples
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Many historians analyze the rise of the American Party as a reaction to increased immigration.
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Several members of Congress were elected under the American Party banner in the 1850s.
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The American Party was influential in the 1850s.
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Many members of the American Party were against immigration.
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The American Party was influential in shaping anti-immigrant sentiments in the 1850s.
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In the 1850s, the American Party aimed to limit the political power of immigrants and Roman Catholics.
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Many members of the American Party were deeply concerned about the impact of immigration on American society.
Synonyms
A 1850s American political party that opposed immigrants and Catholics
Surface Forms
Morphology
The term is compositionally predictable from 'American' + 'party', so a B1 learner would understand it denotes a political party connected with the United States. However, the specific historical identity and ideological content (a 1850s nativist movement seeking to restrict immigrants and Catholics) are encyclopedic facts not inferable from the constituents, making the expression only partially transparent.
Etymology
American Party is often called the Know-Nothing movement because members met in secret and would say 'I know nothing' when asked about their plans. They wanted to limit 'immigrants' and Roman Catholics, so this secret name helps explain why the party worked to keep power for native-born people.
