Transatlantic Jewish migration from Eastern Europe to North America (1881–1924)

1. Eastern European Jewish arrivals accelerate in the 1880s

   Jan 1, 1881Labels: Eastern European, Steerage Migration

   • LOC Classroom
   • LOC Exhibit

2. Assassination of Alexander II sparks pogrom wave

   Mar 13, 1881Labels: Alexander II, Pogroms 1881

   • Pogroms Russian Empire
   • LOC Classroom

3. Russian May Laws restrict Jewish residence and work

   May 3, 1882Labels: May Laws, Pale of

   • COJS May Laws
   • LOC Classroom

4. Ellis Island opens as a federal immigration station

   Jan 1, 1892Labels: Ellis Island, U S

   • CBP Timeline
   • LOC Classroom

5. Jewish Daily Forward founded to serve Yiddish readers

   Jan 1, 1897Labels: Jewish Daily, Yiddish Press

   • Britannica Forward
   • YIVO Exhibits

6. Kishinev pogrom draws global attention and deepens flight

   Apr 19, 1903Labels: Kishinev Pogrom, Chi in

   • Kishinev pogrom
   • YIVO Exhibits

7. HIAS opens Ellis Island bureau to aid arrivals

   Jan 1, 1904Labels: HIAS, Ellis Island

   • HIAS History
   • AJHS HIAS

8. American Jewish Committee founded amid concern over pogroms

   Nov 11, 1906Labels: American Jewish, AJC

   • AJC overview
   • YIVO Exhibits

9. Galveston Movement reroutes immigrants beyond East Coast

   Jul 1, 1907Labels: Galveston Movement, Jewish Settlement

   • Galveston marker
   • Galveston plan

10. Triangle Shirtwaist fire highlights immigrant labor conditions

    Mar 25, 1911Labels: Triangle Shirtwaist, Garment Workers

    • Triangle fire
    • JWA Triangle

11. JDC founded to organize American Jewish overseas relief

    Jan 1, 1914Labels: JDC, Joint Distribution

    • JDC overview
    • JDC Story

12. World War I disrupts migration and reshapes transatlantic ties

    Jul 28, 1914Labels: World War, Transatlantic Disruption

    • LOC Exhibit
    • JDC Story

13. Immigration Act of 1917 imposes literacy test

    Feb 5, 1917Labels: Immigration Act, Literacy Test

    • CBP 1917
    • TIME 1917 Act

14. Emergency Quota Act introduces national-origin quotas

    May 19, 1921Labels: Emergency Quota, National-Origin Quotas

    • Emergency Quota
    • LOC Exhibit

15. Immigration Act of 1924 ends the mass-migration era

    May 26, 1924Labels: Immigration Act, Johnson-Reed Act

    • HISTORY 1924
    • LOC Exhibit