This one came to me because of something my mom said, so forgive me if it's a bit crazy:
In 1290, King Edward I of England officially banned Jews from his nation. They were sent packing with whatever they could carry. However, and here's the first leap from history, what if they had done something different? What if, instead of just wanted them gone, anti-Semetic sentiments were so bad that they wanted them dead?
Instead of just telling the Jews to get out, Edward and the English government round up all the Jews they can find and load them into boats. They have more than they need at the moment, seeing as their enemies do not appear to be gathering force, and this way they could execute them without having to spend days doing it. While the ships are not initially stocked, a sympathetic soul among the aristocrats secretly loads the ships with provisions. On All Saints Day of that year, the ships are ordered to cast off. It is widely believed that the Jews would die at sea, and the "New World" had not yet been discovered by European powers.
Those on board pull together and pray that they find habitable land. Those among them who had any skill with boats were put in charge, and soon the small fleet was sailing across the sea. They lose several ships to storms and various other dangers of the sea, but they eventually come to the Carribeans.
They arrive on a fertile island, and are greated with amazement by the native peoples, the Arawaks.
I know this takes a bit of a leap of faith, but could this possibly happen? And, if so, what would be the consequences? I could see (eventually) a Jewish version of America forming (thus the title). They'd definitely treat the natives better, since they already have experience as an oppressed people. Give me your thoughts, please.
In 1290, King Edward I of England officially banned Jews from his nation. They were sent packing with whatever they could carry. However, and here's the first leap from history, what if they had done something different? What if, instead of just wanted them gone, anti-Semetic sentiments were so bad that they wanted them dead?
Instead of just telling the Jews to get out, Edward and the English government round up all the Jews they can find and load them into boats. They have more than they need at the moment, seeing as their enemies do not appear to be gathering force, and this way they could execute them without having to spend days doing it. While the ships are not initially stocked, a sympathetic soul among the aristocrats secretly loads the ships with provisions. On All Saints Day of that year, the ships are ordered to cast off. It is widely believed that the Jews would die at sea, and the "New World" had not yet been discovered by European powers.
Those on board pull together and pray that they find habitable land. Those among them who had any skill with boats were put in charge, and soon the small fleet was sailing across the sea. They lose several ships to storms and various other dangers of the sea, but they eventually come to the Carribeans.
They arrive on a fertile island, and are greated with amazement by the native peoples, the Arawaks.
I know this takes a bit of a leap of faith, but could this possibly happen? And, if so, what would be the consequences? I could see (eventually) a Jewish version of America forming (thus the title). They'd definitely treat the natives better, since they already have experience as an oppressed people. Give me your thoughts, please.