Pale Of Settlement

Life for the Russian Jew from the period of 1880 to 1920 was not a life desired by anyone. The Jews were forced to live in harsh conditions, lost their ability to have certain jobs, and faced extreme violence from their neighbors, the Russian peasantry. Emigration to America became a way of escaping these truly awful conditions and providing better for one’s family. In 1804, Alexander I created legislation known as the “Statute Concerning the Organization of the Jews.” This forced Jews to assimilate, at least partially, by forcing them out of their villages and into cities. Jews were forced to live in the area known as “The Pale of Settlement.” The Pale of Settlement was overcrowded and created poverty among the Jews. As job restrictions limited …show more content…
Additionally, the loss of their ability to have certain jobs provided economic reason for the Jews to seek a life somewhere else. However, the Russian government did not want the Jews leaving and denied requests to leave. This caused Jews to leave the country by sneaking across borders. Some went on foot, others by train, taking with them any possessions they could. Many Jews sneaked into Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Poland. From there, they would make their way toward the coast and ports. From ports such as Antwerp, Amsterdam, and Hamburg the Russian Jews, now immigrants, would make their way towards new lives.The pull to immigrate to the United States can be attributed to the desire for freedom from religious persecution and more economic opportunities. The Russian Jews could achieve both of these goals by choosing the United States as their ultimate destination after leaving Russia. They felt comfortable going to the U.S. knowing that German Jews had previously done the same and had been welcomed and became successful citizens. Unfortunately, the German Jews did not like the Russian Jews coming into their cities; however, they did help them in getting settled in