Tensions in Whitechapel

• Why did many Irish people end up in Whitechapel instead of boarding ships to America?

  They ran out of money to make the journey to America
• What type of jobs did many Irish immigrants take on in Whitechapel?

  They became 'navvies', doing labouring jobs on roads, canals, and bridges
• Who were the Fenians?

  Irish nationalists who wanted to end British rule of Ireland
• What tactics did the Fenians use to bring attention to their cause?

  They used terror tactics
• How did the actions of the Fenians affect the residents of Whitechapel?


  It led to strong anti-Irish feelings among many residents
• Why did many Jewish migrants come to Whitechapel in the 1880s?

  They were fleeing anti-Semitic pogroms in the Russian Empire
• What was the demographic composition of some parts of Whitechapel regarding the Jewish population?

  In some parts, the population was 95% Jewish
• How were Jewish migrants perceived in Whitechapel?


  They were seen as a separate group due to different food and clothing rules
• Why were Jewish workers often blamed for economic competition in Whitechapel?

  They were willing to accept cheaper work than local residents
• What happened when the body of the third Ripper victim was found?

  It increased beliefs that a Jew was to blame
• What was the Social Democratic Federation (SDF)?

  Britain's first socialist party founded in 1881
• What was the main goal of the SDF?

  To bring down the capitalist system
• How did the SDF view the police during the economic crisis?

  As the public face of a government that did not care for the people
• What fears did people have regarding Eastern European immigrants?

  They feared they brought revolutionary socialist and anarchist ideas
• What is anarchism?

  A political movement opposing all forms of government
• What did anarchists want for society?

  They wanted society to be run without anyone in charge
• What role did navvies play in Whitechapel?

  They contributed to the construction of infrastructure like roads, canals, and bridges
• How did the Irish and Jewish communities impact the local economy in Whitechapel?

  They increased competition for jobs and resources
• What historical events led to the Jewish migration to Whitechapel?

  The anti-Semitic pogroms in the Russian Empire
• What was the significance of the SDF in the socialist movement in Britain?

  It was the first socialist party and influenced future movements
• How did immigration contribute to social tensions in Whitechapel?

  It led to competition for jobs and resources, causing conflict