Why are there so many Jewish people in the USA?

Answer 1

Are there so many? Estimates are that Jews make up about 2 percent of the US population, which makes Jews far less numerous than Hispanics (perhaps 18 percent) or Blacks (perhaps 12 percent). But, it's fair to ask why there are even 2 percent. The first Jews arrived in New Amsterdam in the 17th century, and between then and the mid 19th century, a trickle of Jews into the United States continued. In 1848-49, in the wake of the collapse of the Napoleanic Empire, there was a wave of revolution and counterrevolution in Europe. Significant numbers of Jews fled to the United States then, settling thinly dispersed across the country. Starting in the 1880s, Imperial Russia began a carefully thought-out campaign of terror against its Jewish community. The aim of the government for the Jews was that "One third will die out, one third will leave the country and one third will be completely dissolved in the surrounding population." Millions fled, many ended up in England and Argentina, but the United States and Canada were the major destinations. The Russian Revolution drove another wave of Jewish refugees and Nazi Germany drove another, although starting in the 1920s, the US began strictly limiting Jewish Immigration. Nonetheless, immigration continues to this day. When Israel was founded, most of the Arab countries expelled their Jewish minorities, hoping that the refugees would swamp and sink Israel. Most went to Israel, but many went to France and some are now US citizens. Rising antisemitism in Europe and continuing violence in the Middle East continues to drive immigration into the US.