Immigration of Thought

Alexander Duffy

Professor Shaw

20^th Century Political Movements

March 3^rd, 2013

Immigration of Thought

            The mass migrations of Eastern European Jews to the United States helped to progress women workers unions and women’s rights in the Lower East Side of New York City through the spread of Marxist and Socialist ideologies.  Beginning with the persecution of Jews in Russia during the pogroms, Jews brought their ideas of social justice, backed by religiously fueled philosophy, to the frontlines of the United States Labor Movement.  The likeminded thoughts of the Jewish immigrants and oppressed workers throughout New York City brought about the reformation of policies in the garment factories and the formation of many prominent unions. 

            In Eastern Europe, the Jewish people had been oppressed for much of the 19^th century, molding their thoughts into that of equality and wanting to rise up against their oppressors.  Towards the end of the 1800’s, Marxist philosophy had sparked thoughts of revolution throughout the people Europe, especially with those unappreciated workers to whom Marx’s words applied most.  The spread of these radical thoughts throughout Eastern Europe riled the people and intensified their political awareness, “The excitement of living in a revolutionary era imbued these young women with a faith in progress and a belief that political commitement gave life meaning.” (Orleck 17)

            While these beliefs in social justice were growing stronger in Europe, they were particularly influential among the Jewish people due to the coupling of their religious philosophy with those of Marx.  Unfortunately, anti-Semitism was running rampant through Europe at the time, leading many Jews to flee their homes for a better life in America.  Due to the hateful sentiments in Europe, the Socialist ideals were brought along with the Jews to America, where they prospered amongst the immigrant factory workers whose minds were being fertilized by the oppression they found in their occupations.

            The labor laws of the United States allowed factory owners to exploit immigrant labor, lighting a fire within the minds of those whose previous lives had fostered revolutionary thought.  Experiencing the same type of segregation that they had in Europe, the Jews congregated in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, an area that quickly became known for its political activity.  Here the Socialist ideas were able to grow along with a connected sense of being Jewish as well as being a woman. 

            Jewish mothers who were working as many jobs as they could to keep their apartments and feed their children were prone to the ideas of Socialism from Europe.   Due to the close proximity in which Jews from all over Europe lived, the thoughts and ideas from all different areas were at once united.  The mothers were either learning of Socialism and Marxism in the factories, or from Socialist newspapers such as The Forward and what employed members of the family were hearing.  The crosspollination of these thoughts lead to the political hyperawareness of Jewish women in the Lower East Side. 

            Apart from the upbringing of Jews in homes with Socialist thought, their religion reflected the ideals held by Marxism and Socialism.  The Jewish tradition is one that holds social justice in high esteem, making the works of Karl Marx echo that of scripture.  Without this necessary link that the Jewish people felt towards the radical beliefs of the time, the social movements that were started and fueled by them would have been nonexistent.  The Jewish workers organizer Sidney Jonas played upon the connection that she saw between the two and was to attract, in her own words, “Jewish workers who were deeply imbued with an Old Testament sense of social justice.” (Orlech 27)  One book that Orleck takes note of in Common Sense and A Little Fire is the book of Isaiah, which favors those who stand up for the poor and fight oppression.

            Through a combination of their homes being a hotbed of Socialist political activity and their religious beliefs Jewish women took charge of the labor movement by organizing strikes, boycotts, and other pro-worker activities.  However, they were at the same time not equal with all workers.  The divide between men and women was a problem for factory workers since men would sexually exploit women as well as not allow them to participate in unions under the belief that they could not organize.  Without a union, women’s rights in the workplace were violated they needed some reprieve from their suffering.  Thus the International Ladies Garment Worker Union was conceived. 

            Women who were not formally educated in the political goings on were forced to take that responsibility upon them.  By distributing books and ideas at the factory, women were able to educate themselves and give a greater sense of urgency to their cause.  Thus began the organization of unions and the progression towards women’s rights due to the expulsion of Jews from Eastern Europe and the spread of ideas to America.