A Jewish Shtetl, Courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shtetl
This site gives a basic explanation of the May Laws, which were enacted in Russia, in 1882. They were a major cause of Jewish emigration from Tzarist Russia. After the assassination of Tzar Alexander II, the government blamed the Jews for the rebellion. The laws included:
“1. Jews were forbidden to settle outside the towns and shtetls (townlets);
2. Deeds of sale and lease of real estate in the name of Jews outside the towns and shtetls were canceled; and
3. Jews were prohibited from trading on Sundays and Christian holidays”
