Becoming American

1
Becoming American

• Revolution and Constitution

2
Introduction

• Change comes to America between 1776 and 1820
• Constitution based on individual rights and
  separation of religion
• Allow Jews to build institutions and create new
  forms of expression
• Anyone could participate in government including
  Jews
• How does this happen?
• Vision based on Hebrew Scripture
• Jewish participation

3
Events Leading up to Revolution

• 1765 Stamp Act Townshend Act
• 1773 Boston Tea Party
• 1775 Shot Heard Around the World
• Envisioning the Conflict
• Jews vs. Pharoah
• Washington as Joshua

4
Patriots vs. Tories

• Jews (as other colonists) split over Rev. War.
• Majority are Patriots
• Merchants want to protect livelihood
• Most not from England
• Not worried about losing livelihood
• Some are Tories
• Prospered under British
• Didnt know how new govt would treat them
• Provide information to British
• Leave and go to Canada

5
Jewish Patriots Fighting the War

• 100 fight in the Revolutionary war
• Soldiers
• Francis Salvador and the Jews Compan
• Colonel David Salisbury Franks
• Colonel Isaac Franks
• Blockade-runners
• Isaac Moses Co.

6
Jewish Patriots Financial Support

• Bernard Michael Gratz
• Uniforms
• Joseph Simon
• Rifles
• Haym Salomon
• Bill Broker
• Treasurer of the French Army in America
• Personal Banker to Rev War Heroes

7
Our little friend in Front Street

• Primary Source Study
• Letter from James Madison to Edmund Randolph
• our little friend in Front Street refers to
  Chaym Salomon.
• Class Discussion

8
Struggle for Rights

• Full rights are not automatic
• New York full rights
• Other states
• Oath of Office included old and new testament
• Christian Arguments
• Jews dont do honest work
• Profited from the War
• Jewish and Christian Response
• Part played in Revolution
• States gradually give rights

9
U.S. Constitution

• 1787 US Constitution adopted in Philadelphia
• Governments authority does not come from God,
  but from the people.
• First Amendment
• Congress shall make no law respecting an
  establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
  free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom
  of speech, or of the press or the right of the
  people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the
  Government for a redress of grievances.

10
U.S. Constitution II

• Implications
• Becomes blue print for states (gradual change)
• Religion becomes a personal issue
• Innovation is possible
• Could argue for rights when felt they were being
  infringed upon.
• Celebration
• Gershom Mendes Seixas
• Kosher food

11
The Jews George Washington

• for happily, the government of the United
  States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to
  persecution no assistance, requires only that
  they who live under its protection should demean
  themselves as good citizensMay the children
  ofAbraham who dwell in this land continue to
  merit and enjoy the good will of the other
  inhabitants, while everyone shall sit in safety
  under his own vine and fig-tree, and there shall
  be none to make him afraid.

12
demean themselves as good citizens

• What does it mean to act as good citizens?
• Jews are still outsiders
• Public Americans/Private Jews

13
A Jewish Revolution

• Changes in Congregation Administration
• Constitution
• Whereas in free states all power originates and
  is derived from the people, who always retain
  every right necessary for their well being
  individually, and for the better ascertaining
  those rights with more precisionform a
  declaration or bill of those rights. In a like
  manner the individuals of every society in such
  state are entitled to and retain their several
  rights, which ought to be preserved inviolate.
  (Shearith Israel, Bill of Rights to
  Constitution, 1790)

14
A Jewish Revolution

• Changes in Congregation Administration
• Temple Boards
• More egalitarian seating
• Multiple congregations
• Rely on dues

15
A Jewish Revolution II

• New Institutions
• 1791 Charlestons Hebrew Benevolent Institution
• 1819 Philadelphia Female Hebrew Benevolent
  Society
• Implications for the Jewish community
• Synagogue competes with other institutions
• Jewish communal life is compartmentalized