Trends in the Study of Antisemitism in United States History

Trends in the Study of Antisemitism United States History1 Britt P. Tevis (bio) Identifying trends study antisemitism American history is a complicated task because historians have mostly focused their attention on other aspects Jewish experience.2 Further, by and large, those works that examine posit anti-Jewish animus has been relatively fleeting generally marginal to experience. Indeed, most often framed as an outlier premodern relic. According this argument, America's [End Page 255] commitment religious freedom, democracy, pluralism deterred state from perpetuating discrimination or bigoty. Thus, understanding America requires studying social spaces parsing personal interactions between Jews non-Jews.3 Systemic forms such university quotas, violent incidents lynching Leo Frank, dissemination propaganda influential Americans Henry Ford appear outliers. Simply stated, extent examined antisemitism, it largely dismiss serious, lasting problem woven into fabric US history. The tendency present atypical, momentary, confined private realms especially noteworthy several important surveys history.4 scholarship must be understood context how promoted idea insignificant aberration.5 As article shows, conceptualizations irregular, harmless, primarily originated 1950s, when academic first took interest larger debate about populism, exceptionalism, objectivity. essential voices emerge discussion were immigration Oscar Handlin (1915–2011) John Higham (1920–2003). Their became touchstones for subsequent decades. Though disagreed certain details, they agreed antisemitism's limited significance short-lived nature, seeing vestige rather than manifestation modernity. Since 1970s, some advanced 256] recognizes both persistent force, which existed beyond realms. Still, Higham's ideas (especially Higham's) remain influential, many continue insignificant, social. Recognizing weight claims historical past seventy years renders field its attendant understandable. Because who published done so either dissenters within fields interested examining passing, collectively, existing presents episodic. Periodic surges proved thus pertinent research appeared haphazardly. Research exploring given themes materialized here there yet dynamics nature sufficiently theorized explained. At same time, despite diffuse relevant scholarship, collectively suggests constitutes integral feature history, momentary innocuous phenomenon unrelated state.6 Accordingly, concludes offering suggestions future researchers. FORMATIVE SCHOLARSHIP ON ANTISEMITISM IN THE UNITED STATES Academic 1950s just Jewry came discipline's attention.7 considered engaged contemporaneous debates late nineteenth-century political movement farmers laborers, reassessed 1930s scholarship.8 developed narratives scholars Richard Hofstadter, Daniel Boorstin, 257] others articulated divergent views on...