How did Kristallnacht relate to events happening in the U.S. in the 1930's?
Kristallnacht was a very controversial topic in many countries including the U.S., who was mostly against it. Also happening in the 1930’s, there was Jewish persecution along with African Americans being persecuted in the United States. Along with Jews, many colored people were banned from schools and other public places. The ironic thing is that the U.S. thought that what Hitler was doing was an awful thing, but the U.S. was participating in something very similar. Along with the persecution, the United States was constantly arguing with Germany about how to handle the Great Depression problems, which led to the war in the 1940’s between Germany and the U.S. Germany struggled with the effects of the market crash in similar ways as the United States, but each country had different opinions on how each should be handled.
- “In America, the Joint Boycott Council protested on the 23rd-25th of November against the anti-Jewish violence in Germany. The protesters burned swastika flags as part of their demonstration” (Nichols 1). This is something the United States did to prove that they thought Hitler’s ways against the Jews was wrong. This seemed ironic since African Americans were being persecuted against similarly to the Jews.
- “Germany ended their appeasement policies. U.S. isolation and neutrality ended with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and Germany’s declaration of war on the United States several days later” (Herman 1). At this point, the damage had been done, and the war between Germany and the U.S. had started, starting from their arguments against the Great Depression.
- “Hitler’s designation as German chancellor on January 30, 1933, and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s inauguration as U.S. president on March 4, 1933, initiated twelve years of parallel rule that ended in the latter stages of World War II” (Herman 1). This is another example of how Hitler and the U.S. didn’t have a good relationship from the start, resulting in war.
- “Germany ended their appeasement policies. U.S. isolation and neutrality ended with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and Germany’s declaration of war on the United States several days later” (Herman 1). At this point, the damage had been done, and the war between Germany and the U.S. had started, starting from their arguments against the Great Depression.
- “Hitler’s designation as German chancellor on January 30, 1933, and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s inauguration as U.S. president on March 4, 1933, initiated twelve years of parallel rule that ended in the latter stages of World War II” (Herman 1). This is another example of how Hitler and the U.S. didn’t have a good relationship from the start, resulting in war.
Mocking Bird Quotes
“‘...Adolf Hitler has been after the Jews and he’s puttin’ ‘em in prisons and he’s taking away all their property and he won’t let any of ‘em out of the country and he’s washin’ all the feeble-minded and-’” (Lee 280). Even as a third grader, children are able to understand right and wrong, but they can’t recognize that something wrong can be happening around them.
“‘...you’ll learn that the Jews have been persecuted since the beginning of history, even driven out of their own country. It’s one of the most terrible stories in history’” (Lee 281). While learning in her third grade class, Jean hears about the persecution of Jews in Germany. It shows how even children can be affected by these changes.
“‘Well, she went on today about how bad it was him treatin’ the Jews like that. Jem, it’s not right to persecute anybody, is it? I mean have mean thoughts about anybody, even, is it...I heard her say it’s time somebody taught ‘em a lesson...how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home-’” (Lee 282). This is a great example showing how someone in the U.S. thinks it’s okay to persecute colored people, but persecuting white Jews is wrong.
“‘...Adolf Hitler has been after the Jews and he’s puttin’ ‘em in prisons and he’s taking away all their property and he won’t let any of ‘em out of the country and he’s washin’ all the feeble-minded and-’” (Lee 280). Even as a third grader, children are able to understand right and wrong, but they can’t recognize that something wrong can be happening around them.
“‘...you’ll learn that the Jews have been persecuted since the beginning of history, even driven out of their own country. It’s one of the most terrible stories in history’” (Lee 281). While learning in her third grade class, Jean hears about the persecution of Jews in Germany. It shows how even children can be affected by these changes.
“‘Well, she went on today about how bad it was him treatin’ the Jews like that. Jem, it’s not right to persecute anybody, is it? I mean have mean thoughts about anybody, even, is it...I heard her say it’s time somebody taught ‘em a lesson...how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home-’” (Lee 282). This is a great example showing how someone in the U.S. thinks it’s okay to persecute colored people, but persecuting white Jews is wrong.