July 16, 1863: Draft riots continue to rock New York City
151 years ago today, the draft riot enters its fourth day in New York City in response to the Enrollment Act, which was enacted on March 3, 1863. The violent unrest and general lawlessness in NYC during this week in 1863 remains the most destructive period of rioting in US history.
Even after the institution of the federal draft, although avoiding military service became much more difficult, wealthier citizens could still pay a commutation fee of $300 to stay at home.
Irritation with the draft dovetailed with opposition to the Emancipation Proclamation of September 1862, which made abolition of slavery the central goal of the war for the Federal government. Particularly vocal in their opposition were the Democratic Irish, who felt the war was being forced upon them by Protestant Republicans and feared that emancipation of slaves would jeopardize their jobs. Their fears were confirmed when black laborers replaced striking Irish dock workers the month before the riots.
Discontent simmered until the draft began among the Irish New Yorkers on July 11. Two days later, a mob burned the draft office, triggering nearly five days of violence. At first, the targets included local newspapers, wealthy homes, well-dressed men, and police officers, but the crowd's attention soon turned to blacks. Several blacks were lynched, and businesses employing blacks were burned. A black orphanage was also burned, but most of the children escaped. However, a nine-year-old girl from the orphanage, who was found hiding under a bed, was clubbed to death.
Not until July 17 was the violence contained by the arrival of US troops, some fresh from the battlefield at Gettysburg. More than 1,000 died and property damage topped $2 million. The draft was temporarily suspended, and a revised conscription began in August.
As a result of the riots and the delicate political balance in the city, relatively few New Yorkers were forced to serve in the US army. On August 19, the draft was resumed. It was completed within 10 days without further incident, although far fewer men were actually drafted than had been feared: of the 750,000 selected for conscription nationwide, only about 45,000 actually went into service.
According to author and journalist Pete Hamill:"...the Irish hoodlums established the nexus between New York crime and New York politics that would last more than a century. A path was established among the Dead Rabbits, the Plug Uglies, the Bowery B’hoys that continues all the way to today’s Latin Kings, Crips and Bloods."
Re: Good Morning: Raising hell in NYC
