Nicholas 1 (1825- 1855)         Alexander II (1855- 1881)      Nicholas II (1894- 1917)

During the reign of Nicholas I, several policies led to what would eventually be the mass migration of Jews. They were drafted into the army, not at the age of 18 like the other subjects of the Czar, but at the age of 12, and required 25 years of service. The purpose was to take the Jews away from the pale of settlement and from the influence of their religion and education. The decree of 1853 gave every Jew permission to capture a fellow Jew who didn’t have a passport and present him as a substitute for himself  or any member of his family liable for military service.

Under Alexander II, the pogroms began, and his assassination was used as a reason to continue the persecution of Jews.

The temporary rules of May 1882 forbade Jews from settling or owning property outside of the Pale, and disallowed them to carry on business on Sundays and Christian holidays. This dislodged the Jews from nine tenths of the territory formerly open to them. Restrictions were also placed on occupation and schooling, and severe fines were instituted for evasions of military service. If someone evaded, their entirely family was fined, which explains why many families immigrated together.