What was the name of the nativist organization that targeted "New Immigrants" and Roman Catholicism in the late 19th century?

The American Protective Association was a prominent nativist organization formed in the late 19th century, specifically in 1887, that focused its efforts on opposing the influx of "New Immigrants," particularly those from Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as Roman Catholicism. This organization capitalized on the growing fears among native-born Americans about the social and economic changes brought by this new wave of immigrants, who often faced discrimination due to their different cultural practices and religious beliefs.

The association sought to influence politics and public opinion against these immigrants, promoting a vision of America that favored Protestant immigrants and reflected nativist sentiments aimed at preserving American identity and values. They were known for advocating restrictions on immigration and policies that would limit the influence of Catholicism in public life and education.

This focus on nativism and anti-Catholic sentiment distinguishes the American Protective Association from other groups of the time, such as the Know-Nothing Party, which was more active in the 1850s, and did not specifically target the new waves of Catholic immigrants later on. The National Labor Union primarily concentrated on workers' rights and labor issues, while the Prohibition Party was focused on temperance and did not have a central nativist agenda.