Jewish British Industrial Revolution

The Jews manly engaged in lending industry in medieval England. They were protected by kings, but also squeezed, known as " royal milch cow". Owing to their religious and occupation, they were isolated, persecuted, and finally banished from England. In fact, the Jews didn’t absolutely disappear in England. The atmosphere of religious tolerance, exciting Millennium fashion, mercantilism and Cromwell and Manasseh ben Israel’s efforts combined to contribute to the readmission in the republic of England. The Jewish population in general is growing before the industrial revolution. At first the Sephardi Jewish population was in a dominant position, but by1720at latest Ashkenazi Jewish population had outnumbered Sephardim. They usually lived in East London, but gradually expanded to the Welsh, Scotland, towns. The upper Jews engaged in finance, import and export trades, precious stones, coral and so on; the lower Jews mainly worked as peddlers, hawkers old-clothes men; immigrants also included skilled craftsmen, shopkeepers, religious functionaries, small-scale merchants and brokers. The Jews had few disabilities in the whole. While "Jewish Naturalization Act", aimed to make the foreign merchant Naturalization, finally was abolished.The economic and political status of the Jews had improved during the industrial revolution. The majority of them became rich through their own efforts, which was manifested in the expansion of Jewish middle class and the promotion of their occupations. The constant growth of economy promoted Jewish settlements to change. The improvement of economic status, the development of British political democracy and the change of Jewish self-consciousness prepared the ground for the Jews to fight for civil rights. After struggles, the Jews gained citizenship.Along with the improvement of Jewish economic status, Jewish community had many changes. Emerging Jewish middle class or upper middle class attempting to establish an "enlightened" Judaism to adapt themselves, required religious reform. The London Committee of Deputies of British Jews which relied on the British Empire and the improvement of the economic and political status began to participate in foreign affairs to save the persecuted Jews. The middle-class Jewish family demanded secondary education, but Jewish undergraduates remained few in number.For religious and pragmatic reasons and the requirement of the middle-class Jew, the Jewish community organized various charity activities. Ultimately, the Ashkenazy Jewish community established Jewish Board of Guardians in1859.The economic and political status of the Jews improved greatly in the industrial revolution. The Jews became full citizens of England. At the same time, this process not only reflects the modernization of ethnic minority in England, but also promoted the development of British democratization to some extent.