THE MANDATE IN THE 1930s Flashcards
What event marked the beginning of the persecution of Jews in Germany during the 1930s?
The rise to power of Hitler and the Nazi Party in 1933.
How did Hitler’s rise to power affect Jewish emigration?
Hitler immediately began persecuting Jews, leading to the emigration of many Jewish people, particularly to Palestine.
What was the significance of the Nuremberg Laws of 1935?
The Nuremberg Laws stripped German Jews of their citizenship and forbade ‘racial intermarriage’ with ‘Aryan Germans.’
What was Kristallnacht and when did it occur?
Kristallnacht (1938) was a night of widespread violence where 267 synagogues and over 7,000 Jewish businesses were destroyed by Nazi militias.
What was the Fifth Aliyah and what motivated it?
The Fifth Aliyah occurred in the 1930s as Jews fleeing persecution in Nazi Germany immigrated to Palestine. It was motivated by the escalating persecution of Jews in Germany and neighboring countries.
What was the economic situation in Palestine during the 1930s?
The economy in Palestine improved during the 1930s, creating new opportunities that attracted Jewish immigrants.
Who was the High Commissioner of the Palestine Mandate that was pro-Zionist?
Arthur Wauchope.
Why did the USA’s tightening of immigration laws in the 1930s affect Jewish immigration to Palestine?
The USA’s immigration laws, which were stricter due to the Great Depression, led more Jews to seek refuge in Palestine.
What was Aliyah Bet?
Aliyah Bet was the illegal immigration of Jews into Palestine, often facilitated by extremist factions of the Yishuv who defied British law.
How many Jews immigrated to Palestine legally during the 1930s?
Around 200,000 to 300,000 Jews immigrated legally to Palestine in the 1930s.
How did the British authorities try to limit Jewish immigration to Palestine?
The British authorities attempted to limit Jewish immigration through regulations and restrictions, but these efforts were often circumvented by Aliyah Bet.
What demographic shift occurred by 1939 in Palestine?
By 1939, the Jewish population in Palestine reached nearly one-third of the total population, a significant increase from less than 10% at the beginning of the Mandate.
What was the main cause of the Arab General Strike in 1936?
The Arab General Strike was triggered by growing resentment towards increased Jewish immigration and economic grievances, and it escalated due to British policies.
Who was Sheikh al-Qassam and what did he do in 1930?
Sheikh al-Qassam was an anti-Zionist and anti-British jihadist who founded the “Black Hand” organization in 1930 to oppose British rule and Zionism.
What was the Black Hand?
The Black Hand was an anti-Zionist, anti-British jihadist organization founded by Sheikh al-Qassam in 1930 to expel Jews and the British from Palestine.
What major action did Sheikh al-Qassam’s followers take in 1935?
In 1935, al-Qassam’s militia engaged in sabotage, attacking the British railway network and destroying Jewish citrus orchards.
What sparked the 1936 Arab General Strike in Palestine?
The 1936 Arab General Strike was sparked by the killing of a British policeman by al-Qassam’s followers and the subsequent retaliation by the Irgun, a Zionist terrorist group.
What were the main economic grievances of the Palestinian fellahin (peasants) in the 1930s?
Fellahin were displaced from their lands due to Zionist land purchases and faced overcrowding and poor working conditions, leading to increased poverty.
What was the “Hebrew Labour Programme” and how did it impact Palestinian workers?
The “Hebrew Labour Programme” aimed to employ Jews in key industries, excluding Palestinian workers, leading to mass unemployment and increased poverty for Palestinians.
How did the socio-cultural context of Palestine in the 1930s change due to the conflict?
Palestinian society became more religiously and politically conservative as a reaction to Zionism and British colonialism, leading to the rise of grassroots political leadership.
What inspired the Arab General Strike in 1936?
The Arab General Strike was inspired by similar movements in neighboring countries like Iraq, Syria, and Egypt, where mass uprisings pressured colonial powers for independence.
What were the demands of the Arab Higher Committee (AHC) during the 1936 General Strike?
The AHC demanded: 1) The prohibition of further Jewish immigration, 2) The prohibition of land sales to Jews, 3) The establishment of a National Government with an elected council.
What did the British authorities do to suppress the Arab General Strike in 1936?
The British authorities used harsh tactics, including house searches, night raids, imprisonment, and even torture, leading to further escalation of violence.
What was the British response to Palestinian attacks on their infrastructure during the 1936 Arab Revolt?
The British increased security forces, imposed martial law, and used collective punishment tactics, such as burning Palestinian villages and torturing rebels.
What significant development occurred by the end of June 1936 in Palestine?
By the end of June 1936, the violence had escalated to full military engagements between Palestinians and British soldiers, and the British increased troop deployment in response.
What was the Peel Commission and what did it propose?
The Peel Commission (1937) was a British-led investigation into the causes of violence in Palestine. It proposed partitioning Palestine into separate Jewish and Palestinian Arab states, which was met with opposition from both sides.
How did the Yishuv react to the Peel Commission’s proposed partition?
The Yishuv was dissatisfied, as the proposal did not give them the all-encompassing homeland they hoped for, but they saw it as a step toward establishing a Jewish state.
How did Palestinian Arabs react to the Peel Commission’s partition proposal?
Palestinian Arabs rejected the proposal, viewing it as an unfair division of their land that favored the Jewish settlers.
What happened during the second phase of the Arab Revolt in late 1937?
The second phase of the Arab Revolt became more violent, with increased attacks on British soldiers, Jewish communities, and civilians.
How did the Yishuv split during the Arab Revolt?
The Yishuv split, with the Haganah (moderate faction) advocating restraint, while the Irgun (far-right faction) launched a violent terrorist campaign against Arabs and British officers.
What was the British military response to the Arab Revolt by 1938?
The Arab Revolt was suppressed by British forces by 1939, with significant casualties and devastation to Palestinian society.
What were the two significant consequences of the Arab Revolt for the Yishuv?
1) Professionalization of Jewish militia forces. 2) The destruction of Palestinian society, weakening Palestinian resistance in the future.
What was the White Paper of 1939 and what did it propose?
The White Paper of 1939 proposed limiting Jewish immigration to 75,000 over five years, prohibiting land sales to Jews, and aiming for Palestinian independence within 10 years.
How did the Yishuv react to the White Paper of 1939?
The Yishuv viewed the White Paper as a betrayal, leading to protests and renewed violence, including terrorist actions by the Irgun and Lehi (Stern Gang).
Why did Britain propose the White Paper in 1939?
Britain feared further violence in Palestine and was preoccupied with the impending war in Europe and tensions in Asia.
How did the Palestinian Arabs view the White Paper of 1939?
Palestinian Arabs viewed the White Paper with caution but saw it as a step toward achieving independence, especially with the restriction of Jewish immigration.
What was the impact of World War II on British policies in Palestine?
The outbreak of WWII in 1939 led to a temporary halt in conflict, as both the Yishuv and Palestinian Arabs viewed Nazi Germany as a greater threat than Britain.
What was the result of the White Paper in terms of Jewish immigration?
The White Paper drastically reduced Jewish immigration to Palestine, limiting it to 75,000 over five years, which was seen as a betrayal by the Yishuv.
