Study on Anti-Semitism in the Times of the American Economic Crisis, 1929-1933

Abstract

The development of anti-Semitism in the United States has profound historical roots. The resurgence of anti-Semitism, spurred on by the economic crisis of 1929-1933, became a direct reflection of the social unrest and economic difficulties of the time. The economic crisis served as a catalyst to exacerbate the existing anti-Semitic prejudices, which made anti-Semitism in this period characterized by complexity, expansion, extremism, organization, and the fusion of multiple extremist ideas. Archives from the American Jewish Committee, such as “The Silver Shirts, Their History, Founders, and Activities,” “The Influence of Hitlerism in the United States,” and “Report of William Dudley Pelley,” are important for understanding the background, founders, and anti-Semitic activities of anti-Semitic organizations during this period. The Jewish Intelligence Agency’s reports help to understand the emergence of anti-Semitic voices in local legislatures and governments in the United States. Other social groups discriminated against Jews to varying degrees in different fields, which worsened the living conditions of the Jewish community and directly contributed to the development of the Jewish left-wing movement.