The people were crying out for change. and the Whigs were unable to offer attractive or exciting change. For a few years. it seemed that knownothingism might provide the answer. The knownothings were formed as a response to the growing tide of immigration from nonAngloSaxon countries to the United States. They had a very simple creed: If you are not like us in race and religion and national origin. we dont want you here. They fed on fearthe fear of those who had achieved some measure of security toward those who were still struggling upward from the bottom of the ladder.
Identified stereotypes
Immigrants from non-Anglo-Saxon countries are portrayed as different and unwanted.