History 2420-2
October 2005

The Jewish World Conspiracy Myth

Origins of Antisemitism

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In competition with Judaism, early Christian leaders blamed Jews as a group for the murder of Jesus & labelled them sons of Satan, followers of the Anti-Christ.

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European Catholics taught that Jews were Christ-killers. In medieval times, stories spread that Jews ritually murdered Christian children, worshipped the devil, used black magic, & actively sought to destroy Christianity.

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One of few groups spread throughout world, with links among Jewish communities, but no home country.

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Barred from most trades & limited in where they could live, Jews lived together in urban neighborhoods &  took up Christian-despised occupations (moneylending, shopkeeping).  Many became entrepreneurs & some got rich.

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In self-fulfilling fashion, Jews got reputation as wealthy, greedy “Shylocks,” con men, cutthroat businessmen who exploited non-Jews & had no loyalty except $.

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“International bankers” as Antisemitic code word, based on Rothschild family.

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Because their communities were clustered in major cities and capitals, Jews were often thought to have great behind-the-scenes political influence (even in countries that allowed Jews no rights!).

The Transformation of Antisemitism in the 19th-Century

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Added to other myths was the Jewish World Conspiracy, idea that a secret Jewish government existed controlling banks, press, etc., & planned world domination.

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European conspiracy theorists linked Jews to Illuminati & Masonic conspiracies.

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Jews blamed by those who hated 19th-century economic & social changes

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Jews gained rights from political liberalization & so held responsible for revolutions.

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 Traditional reputation as financiers & entrepreneurs made it easy to blame Jews for hardships brought by industrialization, including poverty & economic crashes.

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 Political antisemitism: Aristocrats, monarchs, & right-wing often blamed Jews to keep masses on  their side. Ultra-nationalists attacked them as foreign influence.

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The rise of the “pogrom”: organized mob attacks on or massacres of Jews, typically condoned, encouraged, or fomented by governments.

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100,000s displaced or killed in Russia after assassination of tsar in 1881, failed revolution in 1905, during civil war following the Russian Revolution of 1917.

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 Pogroms led to emigration of Russian Jews to US.

 “Proof” of the Jewish conspiracy: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion

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Claimed to be minutes of a meeting in which Jewish leaders plan world conquest.

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Based on an 1868 novel & miscellaneous other materials, pasted together by Russian secret service agents in the 1890s.

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Published in Russia, Germany, & throughout the world, early 1900s on, justifying pogroms, expulsion, restrictions on Jewish rights, & the Nazi Holocaust.

Antisemitism in America

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Always existed but never bad until large-scale Jewish immigration after 1890.

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Jews harshly treated by Catholic immigrant groups, especially Irish cops.

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Picked up on rhetorically by rural radical movements such as the Populists.

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Composed of farmers who felt abused by capitalist system, especially banks & railroads.  Hurt by arid lands and low farm prices. Jews as symbols of international financial interests.

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 One issue was the “Crime of ‘73,” government’s decision to stop making silver coins and return to the gold standard to hold down credit & inflation.

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Came to be partly blamed on a “gold conspiracy” involving Jewish bankers.

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Farmers became convinced that silver coinage would expand credit & raise farm prices.

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Silver became main issue in 1896 campaign. “Cross of Gold” speech, most famous statement of Democratic/Populist candidate Bryan, had antisemitic overtones.

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WASP elite discovered a “Jewish problem” in early 20th century.

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Fears that Jews were too intelligent, cunning, hard-working, ambitious, to the point that WASPs could not compete.

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Muckrakers warned of the dangers of  the “Jewish invasion.”

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“Blackballing” of wealthy Jews from elite clubs & neighborhoods.

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Discrimination against Jews in universities & professions.

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In 1920s, Henry Ford owned Dearborn Independent, newspaper that published the “Protocols” & more. Then Ford wrote The International Jew, blaming Jewish conspiracy for declining morals of youth. Ford & his book became a favorite of Hitler & Nazis.

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Economic hardship and antisemitism: Father Charles Coughlin among working-class Catholics during Great Depression, Nation of Islam among blacks.  

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In 1930s & 40s, US gov. & press ignored evidence of Holocaust & some Americans and Europeans today claim that it was all hoax organized by the Jewish World Conspiracy