About three percent of the population in the United States of today are Jews.
Their home is America and they fell and act as Americans. Most of them are
descendants of European emigrants who came to America in the mass migration
in the first half of the 19th century. Today, scarcely anybody thinks about those
days and even worse, many people hardly know anything about it. Well, it was
not a long period of time in which the mass migration took place. It only covers
about fifty years; yet, fifty important years. Those were the years, when the
cornerstone of the Jewish history in America was laid. A history, different to
Jewish histories in other countries. In the United States of America, Jews have
never been discriminated nor persecuted. They had the same chances than every
Gentile in America.
This paper shows how the Jewish immigrants gained a foothold in America
between the early years of the 19th century and the beginning of the Civil War.
Jewish immigrants arrived in America without any money in their pockets. Yet,
they had the hope to find a better life in this ‘golden country’. In the following it
will be discussed how German Jews in America succeeded in business life and
politics, and how they dealt with their religion in a country that did not put up
any restrictions on them. This paper looks more on the general history. Although
a history is always the history of people, it was avoided to tell the history of
single persons because it would exceed the limit of this paper. Yet, sometimes
the life of some people are given as examples.
Table of Contents
1 Contents
2 Introduction
3 The immigration of German Jews
3.1 Reasons for German Jews to emigrate
4 Gaining a foothold in the New World
4.1 Earning money for the daily life
4.1.1 Resourceful ideas and know-how leads to success
4.2 First steps in politics
4.3 Old religion in the New World
4.3.1 A family in the New World
4.3.2 Reforming steps in the Old World
4.3.3 Reforming steps in the New World
Research Objectives and Core Topics
This paper examines the integration and development of Jewish immigrants in the United States during the first half of the 19th century, exploring how they established themselves economically, politically, and religiously within a new society.
- Economic adaptation through peddling, trade, and the formation of successful business enterprises.
- Political engagement and the integration of Jewish immigrants into the emerging American political party system.
- The evolution of religious life, shifting from traditional structures to the rise of Reform Judaism in America.
- The broader challenge of balancing assimilation, Americanization, and the preservation of a distinct Jewish identity.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1.1 Resourceful ideas and know-how leads to success
The more successful the Jews became, the more they became object of caricature. In addition, the public amusement often led to the Jews’ old image of the Old World where they were said to be charlatans, cheap-jacks, swindlers and tricksters. However, this did not really harm the Jews. They answered with a unique success. Never before in any other country did they get such a chance. They did not have to pay special taxes, nor were they oppressed by law. They had the same opportunities like the Gentiles – and they were going to use them.
The Jewish peddles earned money. Not long and they had earned enough to open stores. By the 1880’s they were owners of wholesale warehouses, downtown stores, and small manufacturing establishments. The network of Jewish contacts, which they had already established when they had been peddlers, was now more successful than ever. There were many individual Jews who became very successful in those days. To mention all of them would exceed the limit of this study. Nevertheless it is not unimportant and therefore a few examples will be given, acting for all successful Jewish businessmen in America in those years.
In 1853, Levi Strauss arrived in San Francisco together with two older brothers. He pack-peddled for several years and went afterwards to the West Coast. After having sold most of his stock, a bolt of tenting canvas was about the only thing that remained. Strauss asked a local tailor to sew pants that he could sell out of the canvas. He had realized that all of his customers’ pants were worn of. The new sewed, durable pants were sold immediately. Soon he got many orders for new canvas clothing. He sent a letter to his brothers and asked them to send as much canvas as they could find. Finally, Strauss and his brothers founded the firm Levi Strauss &Co. They produced canvas clothes, “Levi’s”, which already “had become a part of Western folklore” (SACHER 1992:59) in the 1880’s.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of the mass migration of Jews to America in the 19th century and outlines the paper's focus on their integration into American society.
The immigration of German Jews: Discusses the historical context of Jewish migration, including the specific pressures and restrictions in Germany that necessitated emigration.
Gaining a foothold in the New World: Explores the economic survival strategies, the role of peddling, and the political participation of Jewish immigrants.
Keywords
Jewish immigration, 19th century, United States, mass migration, German Jews, peddling, Levi Strauss, business success, political integration, Americanization, Reform Judaism, synagogue, identity, religious community, B’nai B’rith.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research?
This paper examines the integration process of German Jews who immigrated to the United States during the first half of the 19th century.
What are the primary thematic areas explored in the text?
The core themes include the economic transition from peddling to established commerce, participation in American politics, and the transformation of religious practices through the Reform movement.
What is the main objective of the author?
The goal is to illustrate how Jewish immigrants successfully gained a foothold in American life while navigating the complexities of identity and religious reform.
Which methodology does the study employ?
The paper utilizes a historical analysis approach, relying on general historical context and specific case studies to explain broader social trends.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers the reasons for emigration from Germany, the development of trade networks, political involvement, and the shift from traditional to reformed Jewish religious life in America.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Key terms include Jewish immigration, Americanization, Reform Judaism, peddling, and the 19th-century socio-economic landscape.
How did Levi Strauss contribute to the success of Jewish businessmen?
Levi Strauss is used as a prime example of immigrant resourcefulness; he adapted his remaining inventory—canvas—into durable work pants, which laid the foundation for a globally recognized clothing firm.
What role did B’nai B’rith play in the immigrant experience?
B’nai B’rith was established as a Jewish fellowship to foster a sense of community, provide self-help, and facilitate the Americanization of Jewish immigrants.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Patricia Zimmermann (Autor:in), 2002, The immigration of German Jews in America in the first half of the 19th century, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/13737
