Anti-Catholic nativism softened into mild anticlericalism in the 1870s

Evidence

The mild temper of Protestant nativism in the seventies is best evidenced by the new secret society that it produced. The Order of the American Union took form in New York City about 1870, modeled after the prewar Know-Nothings. Unlike the latter, however, it admitted all Protestants, native and foreign-born, to membership and confined its agitation to anticlerical issues; it called on the American people “of all nationalities” to unite against the political activities of the Catholic Church. The O.A.U. reached a peak in 1875 with about forty councils in New York, a score in Ohio, and a scattered following elsewhere. — John Higham, Strangers in the Land, 179

Categorization

• XREF: Evidence that nativism—even anti-Catholicism—was not a constant but rose and fell; relevant to reader’s question about whether group solidarity manufactures fresh enemies when threats fade. — connects to: Anti-Catholic nativism peaked after mass Catholic immigration, not before it — Sahar F. Aziz, The Racial Muslim: When Racism Quashes…, 287; Nativism persisted beyond its anti-radical phase and assumed evolving new forms — John Higham, Strangers in the Land: Patterns of…, 1399; Northern Baptist women’s reform agenda fused anti-Catholic nativism with defense of public schools — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent: The Women’s…, 534

Broader Connections

• Anti-Catholic nativism peaked after mass Catholic immigration, not before it #complicates (0.80) — Sahar F. Aziz, The Racial Muslim, 287
• Nativism persisted beyond its anti-radical phase and assumed evolving new forms #qualifies (0.75) — John Higham, Strangers in the Land, 1399