The New “Know Nothings”

Americans trust in their government is broken.

That loss of trust has been brought about by a polarization of our democratic process. Not since the 1850s have we witnessed a meltdown of basic civility especially in Washington but throughout the entire country. Much of it can be laid at the feet of hyper-partisan politicians who would rather be on cable news than in legislative committee meetings.

Some have compared today’s Republican Party with that of the Whigs disintegrating into the “Know Nothings.” I do not think that Republicans have descended that far yet, but the nativist rhetoric wrapped in conspiracy theories can quickly have that outcome.

The anti-bellum America of that period does have some similarities to today. There was a vast number of immigrants entering the country that began to threaten the dominance of the White Anglo Saxon Protestant majority. WASPs had held sway since the beginnings of European colonization. Couple that with the industrialization of the economy that was primarily centered in the North, and you have all the ingredients of alienation with a changing economic base.

The widespread use of both railroads and the telegraph was beginning to be an economic and social game changer for the nation. Americans could make journeys in days that once took weeks. More importantly, products made in cities such as New York and Chicago could be sent throughout the nation for sale. Mass produced goods took the place of individually crafted products. News that once took months…