THE HISTORYMODERN ANTISEMITISMRACIAL ANTISEMITISM

Antisemitism

Opening Question:

What do you think life was like for Jews in

Germany prior to Hitler’s rise to power?

Stereotype:

Oversimplified generalization about a person or group of people without regard for individual differences.

Even seemingly positive stereotypes that link a person or group to a specific positive trait (e.g., Asian Americas are good in math) can have negative consequences because they ignore an individual’s interests and abilities.

Some stereotypes are dangerous because they express negative things about a group of people and people start to believe they are true

Antisemitism

“The longest hatred”—grounded in the doctrine of Christianity

Jews-associated with Judas, originally a disciple and later the betrayer of Jesus

The term “antisemitism,” which signals hatred toward Jews as members of a separate race, was first coined by Jew-haters in Germany in the 1870s…this became bad for Jews in the future…

Modern Antisemitism

19th-century Antisemites didn’t want Jews mixing into general society

Two motifs of modern antisemitism: “Jewish conspiracy”-Jews are devising a secret plot to

take over the world Scientifically racial theory contributing to negative

stereotypes

Racial Antisemitism

Jews-an inferior and destructive RACE of people

“purity of blood”-guarantee for the “superior” race

Mixing of blood-lead to destruction of master race

Nazi ideology portrayed Jews as subhuman through propaganda

Anti-Semitism Final Thoughts

What does the term “scapegoat” mean?Can you name groups of people in the United

States who have been unfairly blamed for circumstances or events? (e.g., immigrants blamed for unemployment, Japanese Americans blamed for bombing of Pearl Harbor)

What is propaganda?How does Nazi ideology portray Jews?Why do you think people didn’t question or protest

what they were being told about Jews?How is anti-Semitism similar to or different from

scapegoating?

Nazi Propaganda

How did you define propaganda from before?How does propaganda work?

Repeats the same information over and over Twists and exploits the truth Appeals to people’s emotions Gives the illusion that most people agree with the

message Talks to people in their own language Uses accessible media (e.g., newspaper, radio)

What is the effect of propaganda?Can one become critical toward propaganda?

Why or why not?

Examples of Nazi Propaganda: Answer these questions for HW about your propaganda

1. What statement is this photo or caricature making?

2. How is the example exploiting the already existing anti-Semitic attitudes in Germany?

3. How is the example attempting to further isolate Jews from the rest of the population?

4. Which of the propaganda methods apply to this photo or caricature?

5. How do you think Nazi propaganda created an atmosphere of terror for all Germans?