Mendel Beilis and the blood libel

Analyses the Mendel Beilis blood libel case which took place in September 1913. Although the prosecution was aware that Beilis was innocent (the guilty party was Vera Cheberyak a criminal and thief) for political reasons they supported the theory of a Jewish ritual murder. In 1911 the country was divided between the peasants and landed gentry, royalty and church. The ruling class were concerned with maintaining their position and it was hoped that this would be achieved by encouraging the peasants to take out their dissatisfaction against the Jews. To this end the pamphlet 'The protocols of the the elders of Zion' was published by the secret police.