What was the primary belief of the Nativist movement in the 1800s?

The primary belief of the Nativist movement in the 1800s was a strong opposition to immigration and a push for the restriction of immigration. Nativists were often motivated by the fear that immigrants, particularly those from countries such as Ireland and Germany, would undermine American values, labor, and society. They argued that immigrants threatened job opportunities for native-born citizens and maintained that these groups were incapable of assimilating into American culture. The movement advocated for policies that would limit the influx of new immigrants and protect what they viewed as the purity of American society, often leading to the promotion of xenophobic sentiments and discriminatory practices against certain ethnic groups. In this context, the focus on restricting immigration was a defining characteristic of the Nativist movement during this period.