As in much of the rest of the country, distrust of Catholic influence produced a backlash in the form of the "Know-Nothing" movement.

After leaving Congress in 1851, Levin continued to campaign for the Native American or Know-Nothing movement, as it became known.

In 1859 he was nominated for governor by the fading Know-Nothing movement, but trailed far behind other candidates.

Meanwhile, the short-lived Know-Nothing movement declined and the American Party began to fall apart.

In the United States, hostility to both these aspects was expressed through the Know-Nothing movement and Nativism in general.

He was prominent there as an opponent of the Know-nothing movement.

However, Drew left the Democratic Party in 1855, becoming active in the Know-Nothing political movement.

For a few years in the mid-1850s, nativist fears of foreign immigrants, especially Catholic Irishmen and Germans, motivated the Know-Nothing movement.

Stevenson also made speeches against the "Know-Nothing" movement, a nativist group opposed to immigrants and Catholics.

These books were written at a time when Americans were suspicious of foreign influence, as typified by the Know-Nothing movement.