Language:
Russian
Year of publication:
2007
Titel der Quelle:
Исторические записки
Angaben zur Quelle:
10 (2007) 227-250
Keywords:
Jews History 1800-2000
;
Antisemitism History 1800-2000
Abstract:
Prior to the pogroms of 1881-82 in southern Russia, rumors spread among the populace that there was a "tsar's decree" to beat the Jews. Notes that the authorities were initially frightened by the riots, ascribed them to "anarchist" instigators, and punished those who disseminated the false rumors. However, they quickly changed their attitude and pointed to "Jewish exploitation" as the cause of the pogroms. In August 1881 Provincial Commissions on the Jewish Question were set up in the "gubernias" of the Pale of Settlement with the aim of establishing the real causes of the riots and to propose a solution. The opinions of the Commissions' members were divided: some maintained the necessity of preserving all the restrictions on Jews; others admitted that the Jews were "harmful" to the peasantry, but nevertheless proposed to abolish the Pale of Settlement and/or other restrictions; the rest rejected outright the theory of "Jewish harm". The Committee on the Jews headed by Gotovtsev, in St. Petersburg, rejected the relatively liberal proposals of the Provincial Commissions and, despite the opposition of some ministers, introduced the draconian May Laws of 1882.
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