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The '''Anti-Masonic Party''' was a political party founded in 1828 in opposition to [[Freemasonry]]. Arising out of the anti-Masonic movement ignited in 1826 when William Morgan disappeared,<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/event/Anti-Masonic-Movement Anti-Masonic Movement]</ref> the party's movement was based on the suspicion of the secrecy of Freemasons. Anti-Masonics made strong gains in New York in 1828, when their popular influence among the poor earned them local state office seats.<ref>[https://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h271.html The Anti-Masonic Party]</ref> They were early on led by [[William Seward]], a politician who later became Secretary of State under Lincoln's presidency. The anti-Masonic party eventually dissolved during the late 1830s, as many members left to join the [[Whig Party]] in opposition to [[Andrew Jackson]], who himself was a Freemason.

The '''Anti-Masonic Party''' was a political party founded in 1828 in opposition to [[Freemasonry]]. Arising out of the anti-Masonic movement ignited in 1826 when William Morgan disappeared,<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/event/Anti-Masonic-Movement Anti-Masonic Movement]</ref> the party's movement was based on the suspicion of the secrecy of Freemasons. Anti-Masonics made strong gains in New York in 1828, when their popular influence among the poor earned them local state office seats.<ref>[https://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h271.html The Anti-Masonic Party]</ref> They were early on led by [[William Seward]], a politician who later became Secretary of State under Lincoln's presidency. The anti-Masonic party eventually dissolved during the late 1830s, as many members left to join the [[Whig Party]] in opposition to [[Andrew Jackson]], who himself was a Freemason.

The legacy of the party heavily outlasted the organization itself. Among its early activists included Northeastern rising star [[Thaddeus Stevens]], who initially sought to join its ranks though became disillusioned into opposition after being rejected due to "account of a physical defect."<ref>Morris, Robert (1883). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/William_Morgan_Or_Political_Anti_Masonry/fZNAAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=thaddeus+stevens+masonry&pg=PA45&printsec=frontcover William Morgan, Or, Political Anti-Masonry: Its Rise, Growth and Decadence], p. 45. ''Google Books''. Retrieved September 27, 2023.</ref>

The legacy of the party heavily outlasted the organization itself. Among its early activists included Northeastern rising star [[Thaddeus Stevens]], who initially sought to join its ranks though became disillusioned into opposition after being rejected due to "account of a physical defect."<ref>Morris, Robert (1883). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/William_Morgan_Or_Political_Anti_Masonry/fZNAAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=thaddeus+stevens+masonry&pg=PA45&printsec=frontcover William Morgan, Or, Political Anti-Masonry: Its Rise, Growth and Decadence], p. 45. ''Google Books''. Retrieved September 27, 2023.</ref> To Stevens, Masonry and slavery were outgrowths of a shared root whose elitism, privilege, and emphasis on exclusive rights were unconstitutional and a threat to republicanism.<ref>Callender, Edward Belcher (1972). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Thaddeus_Stevens_Commoner/3DcdAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=thaddeus+stevens+masonry&pg=PA25&printsec=frontcover Thaddeus Stevens: Commoner], p. 26. ''Google Books''. Retrieved September 27, 2023.</ref>

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