Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP15562
Authors: Katherine Eriksson; Marcella Alsan; Gregory T. Niemesh
Abstract: We study the contribution of economic conditions to the success of the first avowedly nativist political party in the United States. The Know-Nothing Party gained control of a number of state governments in the 1854-1856 elections running on a staunchly anti-Catholic and anti-Irish platform. Our analysis focuses on the case of Massachusetts, which had experienced a wave of Irish Famine immigration and was at the forefront of industrialization in the United States. Voters in towns with more exposure to Irish labor market crowdout and deskilling in manufacturing were more likely to vote for Know-Nothing candidates in state elections. These two forces played a decisive rolein 1855, but not the other years of the Know Nothings’ success. We find evidence of reduced wealth accumulation for native workers most exposed to labor market crowdout and deskilling, though this was tempered by occupational upgrading. The Know-Nothings lost power in 1857 to the abolitionist Republicans as the crisis over slavery came to a head, culminating in the Civil War.
Keywords: Populism; Nativism; Economic Inequality
JEL Codes: J61; D72; N00
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Labor market competition from low-skill Irish immigration (F66) | Voter support for the Know-Nothing Party (K16) |
| Deskilling in manufacturing (L23) | Voter support for the Know-Nothing Party (K16) |
| Labor market crowd-out (J68) | Wealth accumulation for native workers (J15) |
| Occupational upgrading (J62) | Wealth accumulation for native workers (J15) |
| Labor market crowd-out (J68) | Know-Nothing vote share (K16) |
| Deskilling (F66) | Know-Nothing vote share (K16) |