Anti-Semitism in Tsarist Russia

Question 1

What were some Anti-Jewish regulations ?

Answer 1

-After 1882 no Jewish settlers were permitted outside of the Pale regions
-Laws of 1890/92 meant Jews could not vote for zemstvo assemblies
-jewish trade on christian holidays were banned
-From 1890 Foreign jews were deported from Russia

Question 2

What was the organised violence against jews (Pogroms)?

Answer 2

A mob which would enter Jewish parts of towns and break into houses, kill, rape, burn and kill inhabitants
-local troops and police refused to intervene
-1881 Attacks across the pale
-1905-1906 600 Jewish communities attacked - 1000 jews killed

Question 3

Why was there prejudiced attitudes against jews ?

Answer 3

-Religion : Jews remained a religion distinct from Russian orthodoxy also believed to be the killers of christ
-Occupations : Most jews earned a living as traders, bankers and often worked around money
-Conspiracy : jews were presented as being part of a international conspiracy to infiltrate money markets and the state in order to gain control of the whole state

Question 4

What were the Jewish responses to this prejudice ?

Answer 4

-Emigration : between 1881 and 1914 2million jews left Russia
-Political activity : Jews were draw into revolutionary movements
-Zionism : Believed the Jews would be persecuted regardless of where they lived until they had a state of their own