Jewish emancipation was the external and
internal process in various nations in
Europe of eliminating disabilities to which
Jewish people were then subject, and the recognition of Jews as entitled to equality and
citizenship rights on a communal, not merely individual, basis. It included efforts within the community to integrate into their societies as citizens. It occurred gradually between the late 18th century and the early 20th century. Jewish emancipation followed the
Age of Enlightenment and the concurrent
Jewish enlightenment. Various nations repealed or superseded previous discriminatory laws applied specifically against
Jews where they resided. Before the
emancipation, most Jews were
isolated in residential areas from the rest of the society; emancipation was a major goal of European Jews of that time, who worked within their communities to achieve
integration in the majority societies and broader education. Many became active politically and culturally within wider European
civil society as Jews gained full citizenship. They emigrated to countries offering better social and economic opportunities, such as the
Russian Empire and
France. Some European Jews turned to
Socialism, others to Jewish nationalism:
Zionism.