The US and the Holocaust Project Group
ANTI-SEMITISM
This page was created by Lauren Freeman, about the prevalence of Anti-Semitism
in America during the Holocaust.
Much of the following information was drawn from David Wyman’s book entitled
The Abandonment of the Jews: America
and the Holocaust 1941-1945.
A Prevalent Attitude
During the Holocaust, anti-Semitism was a factor that limited American Jewish
action during the war, and put American Jews in a difficult position. It
is clear that anti-Semitism was a prevalent attitude in the US,
which was especially convenient for America
during the Holocaust. In America, anti-Semitism, which reached high levels
in the late 1930’s, continued to rise in the 1940’s. During the years before
Pearl Harbor, over a hundred anti-Semitic organizations were responsible for
pumping hate propaganda throughout the American public. Furthermore, especially
in New York City and Boston, young gangs vandalized Jewish cemeteries and
synagogues, and attacks on Jewish youngsters were common. Swastikas and anti-Jewish
slogans, as well as anti-Semitic literature were spread.
Passive Anti-Semitism
Another type of anti-Semitism in America
during this time was “passive anti-Semitism.” While many Americans would
not physically harm a Jew, they had negative internal feelings towards them.
Throughout history, Jews have been continuously looked down upon, and have
been used as scapegoats. Therefore, during the Holocaust, “passive anti-Semitism”
meant that these people were already inclined not to care about the Jews in
Europe, let alone America’s response
to this crisis. Due to this lack of concern, in the following photo, one
can see that when America finally
did become involved, she was too late.
Anti-Semitism in Congress &
the Military
There was an anti-Semitic feeling in Congress, as well as in the US Armed
Forces. In Congress, anti-Semitism was a factor explaining the common hostility
towards refugee immigration. Anti-Semitism explained Congress’ actions that
blocked all likely havens of refuge for the Jews. For example, Congress passed
a Visa policy that allowed only a minuscule number of Jews into the US,
and supported Britain’s policy that
placed tight limits on refugee entry into Palestine. Representative John
Rankin, an example of a blatant anti-Semite in Congress, frequently and verbally
lashed out at the Jews. Clearly, if such a high up representative of the
American public spoke out viciously against the Jews, there was an evident
problem within the American government. In the military, many high up officers
used words such as “kikes,” and openly joked about anti-Semitic stereotypes.
Furthermore, Jewish officers expressed frustration over the anti-Semitic attitudes
in the upper ranks. The following pictures are of the European refugees.
Public Opinion
Anti-Semitism in the United States
was also proven in national public opinion polls taken from the mid nineteen
thirties to the late nineteen forties. The results showed that over half
the American population saw Jews as greedy and dishonest. This is a frightening
proportion. These polls also found that many Americans believed that Jews
were too powerful in the United States.
Similar polls were also taken, one of which posed that 35-40 percent of the
population was prepared to accept an anti-Jewish campaign. In conclusion,
anti-Semitism was seriously widespread in the U.S, in turn preventing Americans
from wanting to help the Jews in Europe.
In
Conclusion
If the American public and even worse, its government, looked down upon the
Jews within their own country, why would they care about aiding Jews in Europe?
Created By: Lauren Freeman, Dec. 2003