Early Historical Studies Of The American Zionist Movement (1897-1921)

This paper is a study of the American Zionist movement from 1897 to 1921.The main part of this paper is divided into three chapters:The first chapter focuses on the background of American Zionism.As part of the world Zionist Movement,the American Zionism is gradually rising on the background of the growing Anti-Semitism in Europe and the rapid development of the Zionist Movement around the world.And the special social environment of the United States as well provides some positive factors for the rising of this movement.The enthusiasm of Native American Jews,the Zionist activities of Eastern European Jewish immigrants,and the widespread Christian Zionism in the American Christian society all contributed to the rise of Zionism in America and laid the basis on the uniqueness of American Zionism.The second chapter systematically explores the practice of early Zionism in the America.The years from 1897 to 1921 marked the first stage of American Zionism,during which this movement gradually formed the basis of its unique ideology and practice.American Zionists combined Zionism with Americanism,adapting Herzl's doctrine to the American society and the need of American Jews,through which the movement was totally mold as an American political movement.The unique American Zionism made significant success in World War I but experienced rapid split and setback after the war because of the divergence in thought and practice between the American assimilate Zionists and their European colleagues.The third chapter analyzes the characteristics of American Zionism and the influence of its early year.In terms of ideology,American Zionism denied the traditional European Zionism theory of "Diaspora suffering",emphasizing the dual identity of American Jews and of Zion,and the development of both America and Zion;in practice,American Zionists attaches great importance to the practical work,the difference between the theory of weakening the Zionist faction.The theory and practice of the United States had a profound impact on the overall development of Zionism and the American Jewish society as well.Finally,the paper makes a further conclusion of the success and failure of the American Zionist movement,and put forward some thinking to the Americanization of Zionism.