American Protective Association
Encyclopedia
The American Protective Association, or APA was an American
anti-Catholic society
similar to the Know Nothings.
in Clinton, Iowa
. Its chief doctrine was that “subjection to and support of any ecclesiastical power not created and controlled by American citizens, and which claims equal, if not greater, sovereignty than the Government of the United States of America, is irreconcilable with American citizenship.” Accordingly, it opposed “the holding of offices in National, State, or Municipal Government by any subject or supporter of such ecclesiastical power.” Another of its purposes was to prevent all public encouragement and support of sectarian schools. It did not constitute a separate political party, but sought to control existing parties.
It was most active between 1891 and 1897. Many members were Irish Protestants who belonged to the anti-Catholic Orange Order
or German and Scandinavian Lutherans. The APA's goals included restricting Catholic immigration, making ability to speak English a prerequisite to American citizenship, removing Catholic teachers from public schools and banning Catholics from public offices. It sponsored countrywide tours of purported ex-priests and "escaped" nuns, who related horrific tales of mistreatment and abuse.
At its height in 1896, the APA claimed 3,500,000 members and 20 sympathizers in Congress, but both the APA and its enemies consistently inflated the membership totals. For example, only one member of Congress acknowledged membership. At a time when it claimed hundreds of thousands of members in Michigan, the association had an empty treasury and was unable to reimburse the train fare for its state leader. In actuality the APA never managed to get any of its proposed legislation enacted, and there is little evidence it achieved any political influence. In 1894, the APA was a major target of Democratic campaigners and in 1896, the APA attacked Republican leader William McKinley
, who was elected President that year. By 1900 the APA had almost wasted away, except in rural Ohio
where it lingered on for several more years. The Ohio APA still had enough strength in 1914 to contribute to the defeats of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Timothy S. Hogan and incumbent Democratic Governor James M. Cox
. Its newspaper, "The Menace", depicted Hogan and Cox as puppets of the pope. The Ohio APA would disappear soon after the 1914 election.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
anti-Catholic society
Anti-Catholicism
Anti-Catholicism is a generic term for discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed against Catholicism, and especially against the Catholic Church, its clergy or its adherents...
similar to the Know Nothings.
History
The APA was founded 13 March 1887 by Attorney Henry F. BowersHenry Francis Bowers
Henry Francis Bowers was the founder of the American Protective Association in Clinton, Iowa. It was staunchly politically anti-Catholic.Henry Bowers, an attorney, objected to Catholic involvement in politics...
in Clinton, Iowa
Clinton, Iowa
Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26231as of 2010. Clinton, along with DeWitt, Iowa , was named in honor of the seventh governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton. Clinton is the principal city of the Clinton Micropolitan Statistical...
. Its chief doctrine was that “subjection to and support of any ecclesiastical power not created and controlled by American citizens, and which claims equal, if not greater, sovereignty than the Government of the United States of America, is irreconcilable with American citizenship.” Accordingly, it opposed “the holding of offices in National, State, or Municipal Government by any subject or supporter of such ecclesiastical power.” Another of its purposes was to prevent all public encouragement and support of sectarian schools. It did not constitute a separate political party, but sought to control existing parties.
It was most active between 1891 and 1897. Many members were Irish Protestants who belonged to the anti-Catholic Orange Order
Orange Institution
The Orange Institution is a Protestant fraternal organisation based mainly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, though it has lodges throughout the Commonwealth and United States. The Institution was founded in 1796 near the village of Loughgall in County Armagh, Ireland...
or German and Scandinavian Lutherans. The APA's goals included restricting Catholic immigration, making ability to speak English a prerequisite to American citizenship, removing Catholic teachers from public schools and banning Catholics from public offices. It sponsored countrywide tours of purported ex-priests and "escaped" nuns, who related horrific tales of mistreatment and abuse.
At its height in 1896, the APA claimed 3,500,000 members and 20 sympathizers in Congress, but both the APA and its enemies consistently inflated the membership totals. For example, only one member of Congress acknowledged membership. At a time when it claimed hundreds of thousands of members in Michigan, the association had an empty treasury and was unable to reimburse the train fare for its state leader. In actuality the APA never managed to get any of its proposed legislation enacted, and there is little evidence it achieved any political influence. In 1894, the APA was a major target of Democratic campaigners and in 1896, the APA attacked Republican leader William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
, who was elected President that year. By 1900 the APA had almost wasted away, except in rural Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
where it lingered on for several more years. The Ohio APA still had enough strength in 1914 to contribute to the defeats of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Timothy S. Hogan and incumbent Democratic Governor James M. Cox
James M. Cox
James Middleton Cox was the 46th and 48th Governor of Ohio, U.S. Representative from Ohio and Democratic candidate for President of the United States in the election of 1920....
. Its newspaper, "The Menace", depicted Hogan and Cox as puppets of the pope. The Ohio APA would disappear soon after the 1914 election.
See also
- Anti-CatholicismAnti-CatholicismAnti-Catholicism is a generic term for discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed against Catholicism, and especially against the Catholic Church, its clergy or its adherents...
- Protestant Protective AssociationProtestant Protective AssociationThe Protestant Protective Association was an anti-Catholic group in the 1890s based in Ontario, Canada, associated with the Orange Order. Originally a spinoff of the American group the American Protective Association, it became independent in 1892...
, a spinoff group in Canada - Timeline of riots and civil unrest in Omaha, Nebraska
Further reading
- Bennett, David H. The Party of Fear: From Nativist Movements to the New Right in American History (1988), ISBN 0-8078-1772-4.
- Desmond, Humphrey J., "The American Protective Association", Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911.
- Kinzer, Donald L. Episode in Anti-Catholicism: The American Protective Association (1964), 364pp. the standard scholarly history
- Lipset, Seymour Martin and Earl Raab. The Politics of Unreason: Right Wing Extremism in America, 1790-1970 (1970), ISBN 0-06-012647-7.
External links
- http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5351/
- http://projects.vassar.edu/1896/apa.html