Beyond Party

"Voss-Hubbard's contribution to understanding the Know Nothings is to explore at the local level the working of that antiparty spirit among Know Nothings . . . Suggestive and interesting."—Mark E. Neely Jr., Journal of the Early Republic

"Voss-Hubbard argues that the antipartisanship of the Know Nothings made a major contribution to the emergence of the Republican party. This welcomed book ought to encourage further study of antebellum politics in Connecticut."—Lawrence B. Goodheart, Connecticut History

"Beyond Party begins a new strand of Civil War historiography, and that is a major achievement."—Frank Towers, Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography

"A penetrating study of political culture in the mid-1850s . . . This book is the very rare historical monograph that is more than the sum of its parts."—Choice

"In what is the most valuable and illuminating part of his book, Voss-Hubbard follows Know-Nothing leaders into state legislatures after their political triumph to see exactly how the antiparty party dealt with governmental responsibility."—Stephen E. Maizlish, Journal of American History

"In this most interesting and cogent book, Mark Voss-Hubbard recognizes the pragmatic functions of much antiparty rhetoric . . . His evidence also brings new understanding of the forces underlying major political realignment, confirms the high level of popular engagement in politics at such moments, and reemphasizes the power of the partisan imperative in the mid-nineteenth century."—Donald J. Ratcliffe, American Historical Review

"Voss-Hubbard's meticulous attention to the Know Nothings' local roots and antiparty spirit offers intriguing insights on pre–Civil War political developments."—Vernon Volpe, Annals of Iowa

"Voss-Hubbard provides a detailed analysis at county level of the rapid and realigning political changes that were underway. He details with skill the culture from which they came."—Philip John Davies, Journal of American Studies

"A shrewd interpretation of the Know Nothings and the world they tried to win. Voss-Hubbard speaks across disciplinary lines to all students of parties and antiparties in the nineteenth century."—Michael Kazin, Professor of History, Georgetown University

"Beyond Party makes an outstanding contribution to the literature of nineteenth-century American politics. Through his careful analysis of the Know Nothing party, Voss-Hubbard offers fascinating insights that extend our knowledge of political culture before the Civil War."—Jean H. Baker, Goucher College