Overview
This lecture covers the impact of Irish and Eastern European Jewish immigration on social tensions, policing challenges, and public attitudes in Whitechapel during the late 19th century.
Irish Immigration and Tensions
- Irish immigration increased in the 1840s, mainly young men seeking work or passage to America.
- Many Irish immigrants became manual laborers, often facing harsh conditions and reputations for violence.
- Irish nationalists, especially the Fenians, were linked to terrorist acts, increasing anti-Irish and anti-Catholic sentiment.
- All Irish people faced suspicion and discrimination, frequently being assumed to support the Fenians.
- The Metropolitan Police established Special Branch to counter Irish nationalist terrorism.
Jewish Immigration and Social Divide
- Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe surged after 1881 due to violent pogroms in Russia, Poland, and Germany.
- By 1888, some parts of Whitechapel were up to 95% Jewish.
- Differences in language (Yiddish), religion (Sabbath on Saturday), and culture made integration difficult.
- Jewish immigrants often worked in Jewish businesses due to employment discrimination and cultural needs.
- Acceptance of lower wages by Jewish immigrants led to hostility from local workers and accusations of worsening labor conditions.
- Newspapers and public figures spread anti-Semitic stereotypes and blamed Jewish immigrants for various societal ills, including the Ripper murders.
Radical Politics and Anarchism
- Political movements like anarchism and socialism gained momentum among marginalized groups.
- Anarchists opposed all government and some sought refuge in Britain after uprisings abroad.
- Police monitored revolutionaries, many of whom were Eastern European immigrants.
- The Social Democratic Foundation aimed to represent workers and women, viewing police as hostile to their cause.
- Whitechapel’s poverty made it a target area for socialist political activity.
Tensions and Policing During the Ripper Murders
- In 1888, housing shortages and unemployment fueled resentment against immigrants.
- Language barriers made it hard for police to address illegal working conditions and understand community problems.
- Anti-Semitic violence and attacks intensified, with press coverage further inflaming prejudice.
- Police feared riots and sometimes took actions, like removing anti-Jewish graffiti, to prevent violence.
- Immigrants were often scapegoated for crimes, including the Ripper murders, reducing public trust in police.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Fenians — Irish nationalist group seeking independence from the UK, often seen as terrorists.
- Pogrom — Violent riot aimed at the massacre or persecution of an ethnic or religious group, especially Jews.
- Anarchism — Belief that society should have no organized government.
- Socialism — Political movement advocating for worker control and redistribution of wealth.
- Sweatshop — Workplace with poor conditions, long hours, and low pay.
- Blacklegging — Working during a strike, undermining collective labor action.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the causes of anti-immigrant tensions in Whitechapel for next class.
- Read about the Jack the Ripper murders and their impact on policing and public attitudes.