JEWS AND THE CIVIL WAR: THE UNION

 This class dives into the tumultuous Civil War period when most Jews were new immigrants who had just begun to settle into their new country. Having various reasons for joining the war, Jewish soldiers fought on both sides of the conflict. We explore the different experiences that Jewish soldiers encountered on the battlefield as well as highlight their heroic acts. We will also learn about the heightened anti-semitism that arose during this time when the Jewish population became the scapegoats for many of the ills of war.

 At the beginning of the war, the majority of the Jews did not support the war. We will explore the varying reasons why Jews enlisted and how their views changed as the war went on. We will also look at the different experiences Jewish soldiers had with their comrades in camp and on the battlefield.

The turbulent times of the Civil War led to Jews being scapegoats. We will discover how the rise in anti-semitism affected Jews. We will take a close look at the lead-up to order no. 11, the most anti-semitic act by the US government, expelling Jews from a large military area.

 We will explore how Jews had a significant role in outfittering the Union Army and how this led to Jewish businesses dominating the clothing industry after the war.