There was still evidence that some German’s were not pleased with the emancipation of the Jews. Jews had dominant position in German banking, which was resented by an unpleasant attack by a newspaper on the personal banker to the German chancellor. By 1914-90 anti-semistism deputies had been elected into the Reichstag. This reflected the fact that Jews had a dominant position on German banking which was resented in German society. Right wing politicians felt insecure and hated the Jews. Jewish physical type was a threat to the pure-bred German nation.
In 1789 during the French revolution, the national assembly was trying to create a better system of government for France. Wilhelm Dohm thought the rights that Jews should have were to be treated as valuable citizens if all occupations and educational institutions were open to them. He was a good Christian but he could see and understand the inequality in France. Between 1789-1815 the Jews were granted the rights of full citizenship and no one should be persecuted for their religious rights. The government wanted a peaceful country and they thought that by making these rights for Jews things would become to settle down.
The governments ideas might influence people if the majority of the public in the France agreed with the point they were trying to make, they might also feel threatened when they don’t agree, they could be influenced by speeches and rumours. The government could also use propaganda to promote inequality. Their ideas might have no influence as people have their own views and are stubborn to their ideas.
The Jews had a higher position in society and were given the same rights as French Christians, people thought more of them in France in about 1900. Jews had very similar status in Germany, things were starting to get better. France would be a better country to live in because in Germany they still had insecure after unification of their country.
Jews were treated differently depending on the country they lived in. The Weimar Government didn’t like Jews. The Germans were too concentrated on winning the war, than to gain inequality. By 1918 some Jews were on the government.
Over more than 5 million Jews, nearly half of the Jewish population of the world lived under Russian rule in the 19th. The area were most of the Jews had to live in the Russian Empire was called The Pale of Settlement. It was in the west of Russia in former Polish and Turkish lands. Russians didn’t want the Jews moving into Russia. If they were not farmers, they were compelled by law to leave villages. They were banned from living near Russia’s western border and the government imposed financial taxes.
The Tsar in the early 1880’s was Alexander 11. he tried to make living better for the Jews. He let Jews, favoured by the authorities live outside the Pale Settlement. Special benefits were granted to Jews who graduated from Russian high schools. Jewish youngsters were encouraged to attend schools and assimilate into Russian way of life.
However this did not mean that the Jews of Russia were free from all restrictions. Not every Jew was allowed to live outside the Pale Settlement, they still had to pay taxes and there were still problems with Christians and Jews mixing socially. They also couldn’t have the right to vote and denied religious rights.
There were mass killing of Jews in the 1880’s which erupted Russia. This resulted in the spread of anti-semitism. Tsar Alexander 11 was assassinated and intended to pin the blame on the Jews. The government then issued more restricted laws on where Jews could live. Many Jews reacted and left Russia.
The communist government tried to bring about inequality to Russia. First of all it abolished all legal discriminations against Jews and the Red Army tried to stop anti-semitic feeling. Things started to get better for the Jews towards 1920.
By 1950 the Jews had a higher status in life in general, ie schooling, work, rights but they were removed from government positions. This was therefore worse than France and Germany. There were still riots and unsettlement going on until 1921 in Russia. In France and Germany by 1921 there seemed to bu nore peace and inequality whereas in Russia there was still anti-semitism and unsettlement although the status of Jews had increased dramatically.
