Editing William Poole (section)

== '''Political views''' ==
William Poole opposed Tammany Hall because they advocated and were built up with non-Native-born government officials. The Tammany Hall gang were also actively protecting Irish voters from Poole's gang, Bowery Boys, who he sent out to beat them up as a way to prevent them from registering. He was also active in the [[Know Nothings]] political movement, which was an American nativist political party. The purpose of the political party, according to the ''New Orleans True Delta'', was "twofold – part religious, part political; and the ends aimed at the disenfranchisement of adopted citizens, and their exclusion from office, and perpetual war upon the Catholic religion."<sup>[3]</sup> Originally, the Know Nothings were known as the Native American Party, but changed their name in 1855. And there were specific qualification that must be met to gain membership in the Know Nothing political party. One, the person applying for entry must "be a native born citizen, of native born parents and not of the Catholic religion". The goal was to organize native-born Protestants to defend and preserve their traditional religion and political values.