The majority of the Jews living the United States of America immigrated from Eastern and Central Europe though a small number of them came from North Africa, Middle East and Central Asia. On the other hand, Roman Catholic Population in America increased in the 1840’s when the Irish Catholics Immigrated into America following the famous devastating potato famine. Since then, the population of both the Jews and Roman Catholics has been on the rise though the reasons behind their movements are very diverse and unrelated.
Most Catholics moved out of their native countries in the face of agrarian revolution and industrialization which saw the invention and use farm machines to replace manual labor in most parts of Europe. Most peasants’ farmers were displaced from their farms to pave way for emerging industries and urban centers. As a result of this displacement, peasants migrated to work in the states of America which were prospering economically. This was the major cause of their migration save the famous Irish potato famine of the 1840’s. (Peter, 2001).
The Jews however found themselves in America as they escaped the heinous persecutions which they faced in Eastern Europe. They were being persecuted because their religious beliefs were described as being indifferent and incompatible with the other religious. This was primarily because of their monotheistic culture of worship which restricted them to the worship of one God only. Other religions by then were advocating the worship of many gods which was un acceptable in the Jewish tradition of worship.
The experiences and challenges of starting a new life in America were very different for both the Catholics and the Jews primarily because of their different social cultural and social economic disparities. In addition both found themselves settling in a land which was predominantly protestant in its institutions, politics and culture.
To begin with the Jews initially experienced problems as they attempted to assimilate and integrate with American culture. They began by building many networked synagogues to bind them together even us the struggled to maintain their religious orientations. After this establishment, some of the American Jews participated in the World War II which promoted interaction and intermarriages in the American Community.
Politically, the Jews were socialists who lived in well groomed communities which advocated communal ownership of properties and co-operation in community work. They thus encountered challenges as they attempted to integrate with the capitalistic economy in America. They had to compromise their civil rights so as to fit in the socio-economy of their new settlement. This adjustment was a challenge to them and eventually they pooled to the wing of democrats. (Peter, 2001).
Their struggle against social prejudice cannot escape out attention. The Jews were monogamous in nature, a belief of one husband-one wife case. On the other hand the Americans were polygamous in nature who propagated homosexuality whereby one could have many sexual partners. This was a challenge to the Jews who had to fight to maintain their social orientations. They formed a civil rights movement against such social-moral prejudices.
Another challenge that greatly affected the Jews in America was the holocaust which occurred during the world was II. It was a mastermind of Adolf Hitler (German) to deliberately execute and exterminates the Jews race. The genocide executed approximately six million Jews who were participating in the World War II. This event was a plot which almost blotted out the Israeli race and the Jewish population was drastically reduced by this holocaust.
Concerning Education matters, the Jews predominantly attended public schools although there were special Jewish synagogue schools to teach Hebrew language and Jewish cultural studies. There was some open discrimination in the 1950’s where the quota system limited Jews students from attending elite colleges and Universities. This also applied to Jewish professors teaching at the colleges and Universities. This discrimination greatly affected the number of elites produced by the American schools.
Culturally, the Jews integrated their secular culture very well with the Americans. Their culture couldn’t be separated from religion, their way of life and heritage (Judaism) which guides the Jews way of life such that it’s difficult to separate religion and culture. Their orthodox cultural religious heritage blended very smoothly to become part of the wider culture of the United States of America.
Concerning the Jewish Language, Most of the American Jews are English-speakers. However some American Jews speak different dialects like the Yiddish which was predominantly spoken in Russia. Other dialects include; Persian for the person Jewish community in America, Bukhori-a Persian dialect and classical Hebrew among others which is the primary official language of the modern state of Israel.
The Jewish involvement in the American government and military is also very notable. Since those olden days their contribution was invaluable in the American wars and they were said to have unique fighting abilities in the army. They were thus incorporated in the American Army and government in large numbers.
Their unique military powers can be dated back many years ago when the bible describes how they fought, conquered and occupied the land of Canaan since 1845 a total of 29 Jews served in the American seriate.
The Jewish contribution in science and business in America is also very notable with majority becoming noble prize winners in science, economics and business. Their purchasing power is also very high and most Jewish American elites are likely to be found in the finance and media industries. (Peter, 2001).
Demographically, the Jewish population of the United States of America is one of the largest in the world. “The recent population survey released in the 2006 American Jewish year book estimates that they account for about 2.1% of the total American population” (Peter, 2001). They are distributed in almost every estate in America.
The Roman Catholic, on the other hand, experienced intellectual, religious, education, political and language adjustment set books among others as they attempted to settle in their newly formed habitat. First the catholic started by building their shrines (temples) of worship which resulted to a chain of catholic shrines in every state in America. This was primary to maintain their religious affiliations and background. It was a challenge because America was predominantly protestant. They held unto Catholicism for spiritual comfort and group identity.
Socio Economically, the immigrating Catholics got disillusioned when they failed to get the jobs they thought would earn them quick/easy money in the urban centers. This was mostly because they were unskilled and could not meet the market demands in the economy. However, they were later on able to improve their economic lives through hard work though some believed it was help from God, saints and the church.
Concerning Education most catholic American like the Jews are English speaking. Upon their arrival in America, catholic nuns taught their children English in catholic schools. The priests and catechists also taught them catholic doctrines and faith just to make sure they are not assimilated into the Protestants doctrines.
It is important to note that socio-politically, the incoming Catholics faced a very difficult challenge which must not escape out attention. Due to its hierarchies and traditions, they faced a lot of prejudices from the Protestants who mused that they were coming to colonize America for the pope. They were called ‘bad names’ by neighbors and in the work place their employers refused to promote them. Unlike the Jews, the Catholics could not rise to government and military positions.
The catholic civil rights were also threatened and they could not be allowed to do any activism whether socio-economic or socio political. To this end, an American protective association was formed to promote anti-Catholicism and other prejudices. Any activitism by the Catholics was prevented and dubbed as attempts to participate in treason. There was equality between the Jews (who were Protestants) because they offered total civil rights.
As noted by Peter (2001) there was also an instance of ‘naked prejudice’ which was kind of open discrimination against Catholics simply because they were Catholics. No matter how hard they strived to prove that they were good, they would never be accepted simply because they were Catholics. This naked stigma hindered the rise of Catholics in many positions in the society.
Another notable experience of the American Catholics is the conversions dubbed as catholic immigrants go protestant’. This was due to the open prejudice that the Catholics faced in America. The reasons behind the conversions can be attributed to the process of migration which is a process of change hence the Catholics could also be inclined to change their religion as they attempted to settle in their new habitat. Thus as opposed to the Jews, who maintained their religious inclinations, majority of Catholics got converted so as to fit in the life of America.
Although the Americans imposed a quota on the number of immigrants into America in the 1900’s, the Catholics populate in America has been on the rise. The Catholics have grown immensely almost in every state and this has led to a wide demographic base of Catholics living in America.
The contributions of Catholics in America are also very notable. Catholics have pioneered the expansion of social infrastructures like schools, colleges Universities, social amenities and hospitals among others. This has been an attempt to promote Catholicism throughout. Although they faced naked prejudice, they did not give up in their good work. They even went ahead and build homes for the disadvantaged, old, sick among others. Though they did not rise to high positions their contributions in the development of social overheads is invaluable.
On their arrival their into America, the catholic settled in towns, cities and did work in roads constructions sites, canal constructions but they rarely settled down as farmers. Their occupation was that of providing labor force in the urban centers which were growing up due to industrialization. From here they were absorbed into the up coming industry. A large number of catholic women took jobs as maids in middle class house holds and hotels. They thus provided cheap, unskilled labor force. This was unlike the Jews who rose to top elites providing skilled man power.
Concerning social interactions and inter-marriages, the Catholics were discriminated and prejudiced. Social, inter-marriages between Catholics and Protestants were uncommon and strongly discouraged by church ministers and priests. This was further enhanced by the creation of catholic parochial schools system which widened the social rift.
Since most of the American Catholics were Roman Catholics, they endeavored to retain their Irish culture and heritage just like the Jews who strived to maintain their cultural religious practices through Judaism. The Catholics in Diaspora therefore straggled to maintain their cultural inclinations which were embedded in their doctrine of faith and religion. This gave them a hard start since they were settling in a predominantly protestant country.
Most importantly, the catholic culture has also greatly contributed to the American culture. This includes various fields like politics, sports, religion, literature and performing arts. Catholic literature in particular has become predominate in America and this has enhanced the growth of Catholicism. Cultural heritage thus has formed a great contribution to the American culture. (Peter, 2001).
In conclusion, both the American Jews and Catholics have increased demographically in America with the Jews populace out doing the catholic population. Their experiences in America are as diverse as their cultural orientations though both of them have adjusted tremendously and they have come to survive prejudice and discrimination which once threatened their establishment in America. While the Catholics faced open discrimination and prejudice, the Jews integrated very well with less friction and this can be agued to be the reason behind their enormous growth and establishment in America.
Work Cited
Peter W. Williams. America’s Religions: From Their Origins to the Twenty-first Century. New York: University of Illinois Press, 2001