Language:
English
Year of publication:
1987
Titel der Quelle:
Jewish History
Angaben zur Quelle:
2,2 (1987) 29-36
Keywords:
Jews History 1500-1800
Abstract:
Discusses the efforts of the English Sephardi leadership to promote a Bill enabling foreign-born Jews to obtain naturalization as British citizens. A Parliamentary Act of 1609 banned non-Christians from naturalization and, as aliens, these Jews were unable to own land or British vessels, or to engage in colonial trade. They were subject to extra fees and customs duties, and to possible expulsion. The Bill was opposed by city merchants and High Church leaders in petitions, pamphlets, and caricatures. Argues that the English Jews' purpose in promoting the Bill, and risking this opposition, was not so much to attract wealthy foreign Jews, as they claimed, as to benefit foreign-born Jews already resident in England, and to guarantee by inference their own legal position, particularly with regard to the holding of land.
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