Russian Jews During The Immigration Era

Immigration has always been a major part of America. In fact, without immigration the creation of America would not have been possible. The majority of immigrants came to America for religious freedom and economic opportunities. However, for the most part before the 1870’s most immigrants were Protestants from northern and western Europe. These immigrants often migrated to the United States as families and usually lived on farms with family or friends who had already migrated beforehand. A lot of immigrants came to America with a plan or goal in mind. They often had saved up money for the long immigration overseas, were skilled in a certain trade, or had already been educated at a high level. Sadly, this would not last. Immigration

A small percentage of German immigrants to the United States in the nineteenth century decided to move due to religious reasons. In the colonial period, religious freedom had been a major factor for immigrants from all over Europe, but during the 1800s it was less significant (Daniels, Coming to America 147). Beginning in the 1830s through the 1880s, anti-Semitic laws were being passed in several of the German states (Hoobler and Hoobler 24). Jews escaped these areas in search of the opportunity to worship freely in America. In the late 1830s, a movement began in Prussia forcing the unification of the Lutheran and Reformed churches (Brownstone and Franck 139). “Old Lutherans,” who resisted this merger, escaped to the United States in protest (139). Religious radicals from Germany found homes in the ever-tolerant Pennsylvania (Daniels, Coming to America 147). These religious persecutions forced many Germans to make the difficult decision to leave their homeland for the promises of freedom and prosperity in America.

Between 1870 and the 1990s, over 11 million immigrants came to America in search of a better a life, coming from Southern and Eastern Europe such as Germany, France, Ireland, and immigrants from China as well. People came to America seeking sanctuary from their home land that did not allow them to be free, such as the Jewish people of Russia, who came to America because the Russian government was anti-Semitic. Jewish people were not allowed to have much property or security in Russia, simply because of their religion. In addition, the draft in Russia would take people away and force them to fight for 25 years, in wars that were pointless due to outdated weapons as well as the brutal discipline they were treated with when drafted. America was a place that allowed freedom of religion, something that was not common and many other countries, making America the ideal place to move and settle down, allowing immigrants to express their religion freely, without the consequences they faced back home. Immigrants also came to America in search of jobs that were scarce in Europe. Many small farmers were put out of jobs in Europe due to large scale mechanized

In the United States, the cliché of a nation of immigrants is often invoked. Indeed, very few Americans can trace their ancestry to what is now the United States, and the origins of its immigrants have changed many times in American history. Despite the identity of an immigrant nation, changes in the origins of immigrants have often been met with resistance. What began with white, western European settlers fleeing religious persecution morphed into a multicultural nation as immigrants from countries across the globe came to the U.S. in increasing numbers. Like the colonial immigrants before them, these new immigrants sailed to the Americas to gain freedom, flee poverty and

“We are nation of immigrants. Some came here willingly, some unwillingly. Nonetheless, we are immigrants, or the descendants of immigrants, one, and all. Even the natives came from somewhere else, originally. All of the people who come to this country come for freedom, or for some product of that extraordinary, illusory condition. That is what we offer here—freedom and opportunity in a land of relative plenty.” (Middletown Journal 2005)

The Jews fled Russia because they were persecuted. A rumor spread that a Jew started a fire, which led to a pogrom. A pogrom is a massacre of Jews in Russia and Eastern Europe. Due to the pogrom Jews fled to other countries, like the United States. Upon arrival, the Jews created synagogues just as the Irish built Catholic churches. Religion became a comfort to immigrants in their new home lands. For instance, religion was something constant that would not change no matter where they practiced. Additionally, it was a memory of their lives from their home lands. The arrival of mass groups of immigrants strengthened bonds with one another because immigrants of the same ethnicity and religion stuck together. Along with churches immigrants opened schools and hospitals too, which were affiliated with their perspective religions. For example, Catholics established Catholic schools because public schools imposed Protestant beliefs into the school curriculum. The Catholics would not stand for their children to be forcibly taught Protestant ideals. Immigrants changed American religious life because they adjusted to life in America by depending on their religious lifestyles to make them feel as home. Therefore, giving the Protestants religious competition. Although, immigrants attempted to make America their home, non-immigrants created laws, which were not friendly towards immigrants.

the United States in some way or another. How so? For example, consider the fruits and

However, some Ashkenazi Jews experienced anti-semitism violence in these Christian countries. Many Jewish people were killed during this violence in what Robert Seltzer called a “supercharged religious atmosphere” (1980). In the closing centuries of the Middle Ages many Ashkenazi Jews moved to Italy and Poland in search of new and better opportunities and to escape their deteriorating living conditions in the Rhineland and central Europe, “migrations took place to Italy and Poland… by the sixteenth-century Poland had emerged as the foremost centre of Ashkenazic Jewish scholarship” (Eliezer, 2009, 67).

Immigration has always and will always play an important role in America’s history, along with the United States having the most open immigration policy in the world to this date. American history began with flocks of immigrants competing for lands to start a life, bringing over their vast traditions and values. Some brought nothing but determination. It’s disgusting to see our congress and lawmakers make these higher-end laws to keep foreigners out, yet our country is built off immigrants. Since the 19th century, America has been the leading destination unlike no other for immigrants to reside. No other country has such a wide range of races and population like America. Diversity is indeed, what makes this country so unique. America has always

The Change in Status and Position of Jews in Russia, France and Germany in the Years 1880-1920

There were two groups of Jewish immigrants that arrived to the U.S. and integrated into society. The first and oldest of the two groups were known as the

The United States of America is, “a nation of immigrants” as John F. Kennedy called it. Apart from the Native American ancestry, all others trace their culture back to somewhere else (Soerens, M. 2013). In my opinion, the U.S has increasing rate of immigrants, than any other country. It is also successful in providing facilities like education, employment and various career opportunities for global immigrants even today.

The United States of America, it’s all about immigrant country. It’s been the defining characteristic of America before this country even began, so it’s important for ourselves to remind the rich history of our country. Of where we all came from, to create this one-of-a kind melting pot of people that is the United States in the 21st century. The first successful colony in America was established in 1607 in Jamestown, Virginia by English settlers. But, these first Europeans arrived in a land that was already home to other people. To indigenous, native Americans who thousands of years had crossed over a land bridge, from Siberia into what’s now the state of Alaska. They were the first explorers of this beautiful land, and they would spread throughout

As mentioned above, America is a great nation built on immigrants. There was a time and period for all the kingdoms to bask in their glory over the land. It started with the Mayas, Incas, Mexicas, followed by the European empires like Spain, France, British, etc. They came, conquered, and colonized the Americas in different areas and sections of the country. Initially, the immigration started for the race for better land, opportunities, for agriculture, environment, and resources. As a result, they began to get comfortable after settling down, and started to dominate the natives. Issues such as indentured slavery, servants, slave trade started emerging against the natives, and eventually the foreign minorities, started brutal bloodshed and the once native

The history of immigration as a whole date back to as far as anyone can remember. However, immigration to the United States didn’t really start till around the 1800’s. Immigration continued to boom even through the Great Depression and the 1930’s. During this period, nearly 60 million people around the globe left their homes to start a new life somewhere else and roughly half of those came to the United States. These immigrants came from all over, mostly European countries. However, they came to this country legally and made it the place it is today. These people built America and gave it its character and own sense of individualism. This was only possible because of the fact that majority of