I desire gratefully to acknowledge my deep indebtedness to Mr. A.S. Freidus, head of the Jewish department of the New York Public Library, for his ever-ready assistance in the preparation of this work. Thanks are due as well to Dr. C.C. Williamson, head of the Economics department of the library, and to his able and courteous staff; to Professor Robert E. Chaddock for his many valuable suggestions and aid in the making of the statistical tables and in the reading of the proof; and to Professor Edwin R.A. Seligman for his painstaking reading of the manuscript. SAMUEL JOSEPH. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PART I.--THE CAUSES OF JEWISH EMIGRATION. PAGE CHAPTER I _Introduction._ 1. Character of Jewish immigration 21 2. Eastern Europe 22 3. Distribution of Jews in Eastern Europe 22 4. Uniform character of East-European Jews 22 CHAPTER II EASTERN EUROPE: ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS. I. _Russia._ 1. Medieval past 27 2. Agricultural character 28 3. Emancipation of serfs 29 4. Reminiscences of serfdom 29 5. Changes since the emancipation 30 6. Epoch of transition 31 7. Social orders: classes, the church 31 8. Political order: autocracy, bureaucracy 32 9. Political struggle: Russian liberalism 32 10. Reaction since Alexander III 33 II. _Roumania._ 1. Social-economic classes 34 2. Emancipation of the serfs: results 35 3. Development of industry and commerce 36 4. Growth of a middle class 36 III. _Austria-Hungary._ 1. Reminiscences of medieval economy 37 2. Transitional nature of economic life 37 3. Organization of industry and commerce 37 4. Politico-economic struggles 38 5. Galicia: economic and social conditions 39 IV. _Summary._ CHAPTER III THE JEWS IN EASTERN EUROPE: ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POSITION