The Galveston Plan
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The Galveston Movement Under Schiff plan Galveston would be the point of entry for the immigrants coming to America because of the North German Llyod steamship offered regular service from Bremen, Germany to Galveston, Texas. Galveston had a railroad system that went into the different areas of the “Hinterland” of America, the proposed area to relocate the Jewish immigrants. The “Hinterland” of America is the area between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. The Galveston Movement program operated between 1907 and 1914; the purpose of this movement was to relocate Jews fleeing the pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe. Jacob H. Schiff designed the program that could support relocating up to two million immigrants into America over the next decade or two. In the past immigrants coming to America had gone through the seaports of Atlantic seaports (like New York). This plan was to eliminate more emigration into the already over populated, unhealthy living conditions, the Jews have already put a burden on the cities for support, and congested communities of the Atlanta seaport cities. In the 1890’s a few different organization tried the “removal” of Jews from these cities into small towns but the attempt failed. Forgotten Gateway Courtesy of Galveston County historical Museum, Gift of Judith Edworthy Wray Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society 1907 to 1914 Jewis h Immigrant
description
Student Museum Exhibit for American Jewish History class.
Transcript of The Galveston Plan
The Galveston Movement
Under Schiff plan Galveston would be the point of entry for the immigrants coming to America because of the North German Llyod steamship offered regular service from Bremen, Germany to Galveston, Texas. Galveston had a railroad system that went into the different areas of the “Hinterland” of America, the proposed area to relocate the Jewish immigrants. The “Hinterland” of America is the area between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains.
The Galveston Movement program operated between 1907 and 1914; the purpose of this movement was to relocate Jews fleeing the pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe. Jacob H. Schiff designed the program that could support relocating up to two million immigrants into America over the next decade or two. In the past immigrants coming to America had gone through the seaports of Atlantic seaports (like New York). This plan was to eliminate more emigration into the already over populated, unhealthy living conditions, the Jews have already put a burden on the cities for support, and congested communities of the Atlanta seaport cities. In the 1890’s a few different organization tried the “removal” of Jews from these cities into small towns but the attempt failed.
Forgotten Gateway
Courtesy of Galveston County historical Museum, Gift of Judith Edworthy WrayBackground S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society
1907to
1914Jewish Immigrant
The Galveston Movement
Rabbi Henry Cohen wanted to help the Jews immigrating to America by meeting with the ships that came into Galveston and helping direct new immigrants to new homes in the interior land of America. Rabbi Henry Cohen sent scout’s out to find new home and jobs for these new immigrants and tried to relocate them near or by already established Jewish communities.
Schiff created the Jewish Immigrants’ Information Bureau (JIBB), to prepare for the arrival of the Jewish immigrants coming into Galveston; it was established to "organize an immigration office in connection with the movement which we are endeavoring to inaugurate for diverting a part of the Russian. Jewish immigration through the gulf ports. . . ." (Best, page 51) under this committee with the headquarters located in New York; managed by David M. Bressler, a social worker. Humanitarian services would meet with the ships at Galveston docks and helped the new immigrants through processing into the America and relocating the immigrants to their new home was ran by Rabbi Henry Cohen of the temple B'nai Israel located in Galveston.
Forgotten Gateway
Rabbi Henry Cohen, second from left Greeting immigrant arriving in Galveston,Texas Courtesy of Wendellhowe.blogspot.com
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society
1907to
1914Jewish Immigrant
The Galveston Movement
The person that put this plan into motion was Jacob Schiff; Schiff supported this program by donating almost $500,000 of his personal money. The Jewish Colonization Society (ICA), association to assist Jews in depressed economic circumstances or countries of persecution to emigrate and settle elsewhere in productive employment, financed by Baron Maurice de Hirsch who assisted East European. If it was not for these two men financially supporting the Jews many more lives would have be slaughtered, if not for these two men.
The Jewish Territorial Organization (ITO) located in Russia lead by Jewish writer Israel Zangwill and managed by Dr. Jochelmann. The ITO handled the transportation as far as Bremen, Germany and placing the immigrants on the North German Lloyd steamships destined for the Gulf ports. In Eastern Europe the Jewish Colonization Society (ICA) had formed to assist Jews to new lands; only a small percentage came to America most of immigrants were relocated to Argentina. The ICA in Eastern Europe was financed by Baron Maurice de Hirsch.
Forgotten Gateway
Above Left: Jacob SchiffCourtesy of tmt.urj.net
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society
1907to
1914Jewish Immigrant
Above Right: Baron Maurice de HirschCourtesy of wn.com
The Galveston Movement
The Jewish immigrant coming to America would have to face new challenges then previous immigrants faced, with the hopes of eliminating some of the issues previous immigrants faced. The Jewish immigrants that went through the Atlantic seaports are living in large Jewish communities where they have the Jewish community for support. The Jewish immigrants coming to America through Galveston had to face new challenges that involved their religious beliefs; being located in smaller towns and not having the support of the Jewish community. Under the Galveston plan it gave Jews the chance to incorporate their way of life and their religious beliefs into non-Jewish societies. One of the biggest issues was that Jews might be required to work on Saturday’s, for Jews Saturday is their Sabbath day.
Forgotten Gateway
Courtesy of loc.govBackground S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society
1907to
1914Jewish Immigrant
The Galveston MovementOn September 30, 1914 the Galveston Movement was official announced that it had ended. The movement was a success and also a failure, under these plan 10,000 Jewish immigrants were placed over an eight year period, but under this plan they hoped to relocate two million immigrants over a decade or two. Relocating the Jewish immigrants into the “Hinterland” of America was a valuable experience, the knowledge that was gain planning and carrying out such a large plan can work. There were a few reasons why the movement did not fulfill their original goals. They need to improve conditions on the North German Llyod steamships, as the passages were treated like cattle. The ITO in Germany was sending immigrants that did not meet health standards set forth in the immigrant laws and government regulations. Zangwill worried that the ITO’s image might get ruined by the failure of the Galveston Movement.
Forgotten Gateway
Immigrants on a Steamship heading to Galveston, TexasCourtesy of mitrasites.com
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society
1907to
1914Jewish Immigrant
The Galveston Movement
Works Cited
"10 Minutes of Torah - 350 Years of Jews in America." Redirect. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012.
<http://tmt.urj.net/archives/2socialaction/082305.htm>.
1914. "Jewish Colonization Association (ICA)." Jewish Virtual Library - Homepage. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0011_0_10128.html>.
Best, Gary Dean. "Jacob H. Schiff's Galveston Movement: An Experiment In Immigrant Deflection, 1907-1914."
American Jewish archives SP (1978): 43-79. http://americanjewisharchives.org. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
Forgotten Gateway
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society
1907to
1914Jewish Immigrant
The Galveston Movement
Work Cited Continued
Bill. "Baron De Forest." World News. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. <http://wn.com/Baron_de_Forest>.
"Checklist of Objects (From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America, A Library of Congress
Exhibition)." Library of Congress Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/haventohome/haven-checklist.html>.
"Dr. Wendell A. Howe: First Citizen of Texas." Dr. Wendell A. Howe. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012.
<http://wendellhowe.blogspot.com/2011/09/first-citizen-of-texas.html>.
"Galveston Plan." Jewish Virtual Library - Homepage. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
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Forgotten Gateway
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society
1907to
1914Jewish Immigrant
The Galveston MovementWord Cited Continued
HENRY, RABBI. "immigration/galveston." museum-of-family-history. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
<http://www.museumoffamilyhistory.com/imm-galveston.htm>.
"History of The Jews In Galveston Texas." Mitra Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012.
<http://images.mitrasites.com/history-of-the-jews-in-galveston-texas.html>.
"Jewish – Blog - Real Estate - You + Dallas." You + Dallas - Dallas Media. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.youplusdallas.com/cityblog/real-estate/tag/jewish/>.
Forgotten Gateway
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society
1907to
1914Jewish Immigrant
The Galveston MovementWord Cited Continued
Schiff, Jacob. "The Galveston Movement - My Jewish Learning." Judaism & Jewish Life - My Jewish Learning. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history/Modern_History/1700-
1914/Emigration/To_America/The_Galveston_Movement.shtml>.
"The Galveston Movement." The Berdichev Revival. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012.
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Forgotten Gateway
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society
1907to
1914Jewish Immigrant
