America’s tug-of-war between anti-
and pro-immigration forces has similarities to England in the 1700s.
Religious tolerance was a force that
led to more open immigration laws (first, for non-Anglican Protestants from France and Germany, and later Jews)—but each time a law of this type passed,
anti-immigration forces quickly mobilized and built a wall around England.
Consider the Jewish Naturalization
Act of 1753, also called the “Jew Bill” (an Act of Parliament (26 Geo. 2, c. 26)).
It lasted only one year, repealed in 1754 (27 Geo 2, c. 1) due to widespread
opposition to its provisions.
The background: The Catholic-branch
of the English monarchy was exiled to Scotland. In 1745, they mounted a
rebellion.
Jews were loyal to the government in
London. Sampson Gideon, a leading financier, had strengthened the stock market.
Jews volunteered in the corps raised to defend London.
But Jews were not citizens.
The Jew Bill of 1753 allowed Jews to
become naturalized by application to Parliament.
The House of Lords easily passed the
bill.
In the House of Commons, conservative
Tories protested that by opening citizenship to Jews, this was an “abandonment
of Christianity.”
The bill was passed and received
royal assent (26 Geo. II., cap. 26).
The public boiled over with antisemitism,
leading to repeal of the law in 1754.
Jews from Spain and the Mediterranean
congregated in London’s district for international commerce.
Jews from Germany and Poland settled in
seaports, where they were pawnbrokers and small dealers of goods.
***
Today, some GOP leaders
have embraced the antisemitic trope that Jews are subversive, globalist financiers. See House Minority Leader McCarthy's tweet, shortly before the 2018 election (above).
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