Anti-Semitism 1/9/15

Question 1

By the end of the 19th century, Europeans often had much of the same views. Why would that be?

Answer 1

They were now able to read Books, Newspapers and Journals due to the printing press making them available to all. So they got the same information.

Question 2

When bad things happened, what did the public often seek?

Answer 2

They wanted a political response and so there was often scapegoats since sometimes there is no actual reason. Scapegoats were used to appease the population being upset.

Question 3

What were some of the negative views that were being spread by media during the end of the 19th century?

Answer 3

Anti-Semitism

Question 4

What extreme measures did some citizens want that were fueled by Anti-Semitism? Did they get what they wanted?

Answer 4

Some called for a political response so there were many Anti-Semitic Acts passed by governments which was just what they wanted.

Question 5

What French Military officer was wrongly accused and convicted of treason in 1894 and sent to prison?

Answer 5

Alfred Dreyfus

Question 6

How did France feel about the war with Germany?

Answer 6

France believed they shouldn’t have lost the war with Germany and they were humiliated. They felt it could have been due to a spy selling secrets.

Question 7

What part of the population was often used as scapegoats?

Answer 7

Jews

Question 8

Did Alfred Dreyfus receive a fair trial?

Answer 8

No.

Question 9

What did Dreyfus allegedly do?

Answer 9

They said he told secrets to Germany causing France to loose the war.

Question 10

In 1896, what new information regarding the case was found and did it have any effect on the case? Were the results Positive or Negative for Dreyfus?

Answer 10

Evidence finds that someone else was a spy. The government covered up the new evidence and in fact tried Dreyfus with forging documents that would acquit him! It got worse for him!

Question 11

What happened that made the public aware that the Army was covering things up regarding the Dreyfus case?

Answer 11

A letter was published in the newspaper letting everyone know what had happened and what was covered up.

Question 12

The letter prompted a new trial. Was Dreyfus then acquitted?

Answer 12

No. He was still found guilty.

Question 13

How did Dreyfus finally become free?

Answer 13

The President of France pardoned him in 1899 and finally he was free.

Question 14

How long did it take for Dreyfus to be completely exonerated?

Answer 14

It wasn’t until 1906 that he was completely exonerated and reinstated into the Army.

Question 15

Why did it take so long for Dreyfus to be cleared?

Answer 15

There was a lot of conflict in views and opinions in France. There was also a lot of Anti-Semitism.

Question 16

What are some of the results of anti-Semitism?

Answer 16

Prejudice, discrimination and even attacks that even lead to death of Jews

Question 17

During Henry VIII (8ths) reign, were Jews considered citizens in the areas where he was in power? Was that similar in other parts of Europe?

Answer 17

Yes, Jews were considered citizens. In other areas of the world however, Jews were not considered citizens.

Question 18

How did the interaction of Jews and Non-Jews change with citizenship?

Answer 18

Jews were still not accepted by the population and Jews and non-Jews did not interact. There was still a lot of anti-Semitism.

Question 19

What was the cause of much of the Medieval anti-Semitic views in Europe?

Answer 19

Christian religious beliefs that everyone should be Christian developed fears of anyone who wasn’t. There was also a desire of the Catholic Church to maintain control over the area and one religion would give them increased power.
(so Political and Religious)

Question 20

What big event were Jews blamed for by Medieval Christians?

Answer 20

Murder of Jesus

Question 21

Was blaming the Jews for the Murder warranted? If so explain.

Answer 21

It was not warranted. The only source of death of Jesus is from the Gospels, which were written 70-100 years after Jesus lived.

Question 22

Who was in charge during the time of Jesus?

Answer 22

The Romans

Question 23

After destruction of the temple, what was was the population fearful of?

Answer 23

The Romans hurting them

Question 24

What are some ways Jews were negatively depicted/falsely accused of?

Answer 24

1) Accomplices of “The Devil”
2) Plotting to kill babies for religious ceremonies
3) Sneaking into churches to desecrate holy ritual objects

Question 25

Blood Libel

• what is it?
• why were these ideas created?

Answer 25

Centuries old false allegations that Jews were responsible for murdering Christians (especially children). They were created as reasons to make attacks on Jews

Question 26

Why were the Jews the moneylenders.

Answer 26

Christian philosophy and rules often made in impossible to lend money because they could not charge interest. Jews could and therefore became the “bankers” of their time.

Question 27

How did the anti-Semitism in Europe negatively affect the Jewish moneylenders?

Answer 27

People and countries did not want to pay money back. If they were to just foster more anti-Semitism, it would become more difficult to collect the money.

Question 28

What happened when the Jewish moneylenders could not collect their money?

Answer 28

The Jewish community as a whole would suffer financially. Since the Jewish Communities had little interaction with the outside world, they depended on the profits made by people who could interact (moneylenders) to keep their economy within the community strong.

Question 29

How did the church use its political power against the Jews?

Answer 29

The Catholic Church had crusades. They forced conversion, restricted activity and even expelled Jews from countries.

Question 30

What were the consequences of not converting to Catholicism during the crusades?

Answer 30

Persecution, imprisonment, expulsion from countries , and even death

Question 31

What countries were highly impacted by the crusades?

Answer 31

Spain, Portugal, Italy

Question 32

What made someone Jewish pre-WWII? How did that impact the crusades?

Answer 32

The Catholics considered Jews followers of Judaism so if they converted them to Christianity, they would no longer be Jewish in the eyes of the Catholics.

Question 33

How were Jews identified even before WWII? (What rules made that possible?)

Answer 33

Since you can’t always tell someone is Jewish by looks alone, Jews were forced to wear distinctive clothing.

Question 34

During Modern European Anti-Semitism, how were Jews identified and was that similar or different from the times of the Crusades?

Answer 34

Jews in Modern Europe were now thought of as Jewish racially so, unlike the times of the Crusades where they felt Jews could be converted and no longer be Jewish. Being Jewish was considered permanent.

Question 35

How did the interpretation of “who was Jewish” effect the thoughts of Jews at the time.

Answer 35

Non-Jews felt Jews were fundamentally (Racially) different from them and so were therefore dangerous.

Question 36

What did/do Anti-Semitic people claim as the sources of their views? Why?

Answer 36

Influenced by a variety of “scientific, cultural, and economic” false and created ideas to make these ideas seem semi-intellectually based and not based on hatred and fear (which is what they are based on)

Question 37

“Protocols of the Elders of Zion”

Answer 37

MAJOR PROOF OF THE LEVEL OF ANTISEMITISM FOUND IN EUROPE. Published as an anti-Semitic hoax. They wanted to be able to show evidence of a big claim that Jews were plotting to take over the world. It claimed it was from a secret meeting of Jews.

Question 38

When was the term Anti-Semitism coined/invented?

Answer 38

1879

Question 39

Why was the term coined/invented?

Answer 39

To make the hatred of Jews sound more “scientific”