 | ||
Old Stock Americans, or Old Pioneer Stock, are members of an ethnic group descended from the original settlers of the Thirteen Colonies who immigrated in the 17th and the 18th centuries. Up until the late 20th century, Old Stock Americans dominated American culture and politics. Thousands of Germans and Irish immigrated to the United States during the 19th century and were met with strong opposition from the majority Protestant Old Stock, who were anti-immigration and anti-Catholic. The famous Know Nothing Party was dominated by Old Stock Americans who believed Catholic immigrants were a threat to traditional American republican values and were loyal to the Papacy. Many Old Stock Americans supported Prohibition in the early 20th century.
Old Stock Americans were major proponents of eugenics, as they believed that they were part of a genetically superior "Nordic race." Many Old Stock believed in racial suicide, as thousands of European immigrants were coming in droves to the United States and they feared they would be out-bred.
History
A distinct American ethnic identity was formed in the Thirteen Colonies because of intermarriage between different ethnic groups, such as the English, French Huguenots, Ulster Scots, Dutch, Swedes, Welsh, and Germans and its distance from Britain.