Pogrom facts for kids
Pogrom is a word from the Russian language that describes a violent riot. These riots are usually directed against a specific group of people. Often, these groups are targeted because of their ethnicity, religion, or other differences. During a pogrom, the homes, businesses, and places of worship of these groups are often destroyed. The word "pogrom" comes from a Russian word meaning "to wreak havoc" or "to demolish violently."
Historically, the term "pogrom" has been most often used to describe attacks against Jewish people. These attacks have happened in many different countries throughout history.
Contents
What is a Pogrom?
A pogrom is a sudden, violent attack by a group of people against another group. It is not just a regular riot. It is special because it targets a specific community, often with the approval or lack of action from the authorities.
Why Do Pogroms Happen?
Pogroms often happen because of strong feelings of hatred or prejudice against a certain group. This hatred can be based on religion, race, or other differences. Sometimes, leaders or governments might even encourage these attacks, or they might not do anything to stop them.
How Do Pogroms Affect People?
The people targeted in pogroms suffer greatly. Their homes are often looted and burned, their businesses are destroyed, and their places of worship are damaged. Many people are injured or even killed. These events cause deep fear and trauma for the victims and their communities.
History of Pogroms
While the word "pogrom" is Russian, similar violent attacks have happened throughout history in many parts of the world.
Early Pogroms
One of the earliest well-known examples of a pogrom was the Hep-Hep riots in Germany in 1819. These riots involved attacks on Jewish communities in several cities. People looted Jewish homes and businesses, and there was a lot of violence.
Pogroms in Russia
The term "pogrom" became widely known because of the many attacks against Jewish people in the Russian Empire during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These attacks were often very brutal and caused many deaths and much destruction. They forced many Jewish people to leave Russia and move to other countries.
Pogroms Around the World
Sadly, pogroms are not just a thing of the past or limited to one region. The 1921 Tulsa race riot in the United States, which destroyed a wealthy African American community, has been described as a type of pogrom. This shows that such violent attacks can happen anywhere when prejudice and hatred are allowed to grow.
Stopping Pogroms
Today, many international laws and organizations work to prevent such violence. The goal is to protect all groups of people from targeted attacks and to promote understanding and respect between different communities. Learning about history helps us understand the dangers of prejudice and the importance of treating everyone with kindness and fairness.
Images for kids
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The Hep-Hep riots in Würzburg, 1819. On the left, two peasant women are assaulting a Jewish man with pitchfork and broom. On the right, a man wearing spectacles, tails and a six-button waistcoat, "perhaps a pharmacist or a schoolteacher," holds a Jewish man by the throat and is about to club him with a truncheon. The houses are being looted. A contemporary engraving by Johann Michael Voltz.
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Map of pogroms in Ukraine between 1918 and 1920, showing areas affected and casualties.
See also
In Spanish: Pogromo para niños
