Civil War Draft Riots

Given its notorious reputation for not being a reliable source of information due to the sole fact
that at any given moment, an individual may edit pieces if they wish to do so, it is safe to say
that the authorized historical documentary Civil War Draft Riots is a better source of
information.
The Civil War Draft Riots of July 1863 would lead to a widespread of violence and unrest
throughout the state of New York due to an outburst of anger regarding a newly passed
law in which people were to be randomly drafted to fight in war. Beginning as early as
its foundation in 1624, New York was established for the purpose of making money;
leading it to become the greatest manufacturer state; leading trade, agriculture and
finance at its top finest. It is reported that because of New York’s large reliance on
trade and commerce, in the years of 1820 to 1860 alone, the “population had risen
more than 1000% ̈ (2). With nearly 800,000 individuals in Manhattan, you could expect
every ⅔ of a square mile to contain a whopping 40,000 people. If you took a breath you
could potentially knock someone over. Wikipedia however mentions nothing of these
statistics that serve as a crucial backbone for what was yet to come in the following
years. Although, Wikipedia and the film both go to mention how New York City was
heavily dependent on the South's connection ties and its support. Wikipedia claims ̈
New York's economy was tied to the South; by 1822 nearly half of its exports were
cotton shipments.¨ (1) New York had such strong business connections to the South
that on “January 7, 1861”, Mayor Fernando Wood, a Democrat, called on the city's
Board of Aldermen to "declare the city's independence from Albany and from
Washington"; he said it "would have the whole and united support of the Southern
States."(1) According to the documentary however it was ̈ January 1860 ̈ (2) that Wood
claimed the North would maintain their connection to the union while also succeeding
from the Union . When news was announced New York would be severing ties with the
Union, Irish immigrants, African Americans, and American citizens were battling
amongst one another. Beginning in the 1840s, New York had become the national
¨immigration port ̈ for new arrivals around the world, predominantly Ireland and
Germany. Wikipedia and the Documentary additional address that this Frontier would
become a contributing fuel to the fire (Civil War) yet to be ignited. It was a c̈ lashing
culture ̈ between the three groups as these were fresh contacts for many who had not
contacted one another before. Irish immigrants faced g ̈ reat discrimation and anti-
Catholic prejudice ̈ (2) was very common as majority identified with this religion. The
Americans believed that the Irish would be disloyal to the American system, drunken
individuals, and entirely incapable of being true “American citizens ̈ (2) In response to
this driscimtantion, the Irish carve out their own taverns, neighborhoods, and fire
companies, determined to establish their ground to the Americans. Foruntaley, the Irish
did obtain the same color skin as the common American, giving them a greater privilege
when compared to the African Americans. Wikipedia does not mention the Irish’s
attempts to be accepted but does explain the African American treatment, quoting,
̈ ̈During the 1840s and 1850s, journalists had published sensational accounts, directed
at the white working class, dramatizing the "evils" of interracial socializing, relationships,
and marriages. Reformers joined the effort. Newspapers carried derogatory portrayals of
black people and ridiculed "black aspirations for equal rights in voting, education, and
employment". (1 )

Similarly, the film informs the audience that most of the African Americans were middle
class students, bottom society ranks, poor, and unskilled due to early on isolation(2).
Yet, the Irish still viewed them as a threat, fearing they would somehow overrule their
group, due to the fact that in a sense, both were on the same pedestal. ̈ T̈ he presence
of the blacks was the presence of someone they had to stand above high ̈ (2) However,
after plans of seceding the union were announced, the Irish received an opportunity to
prove their worth. Southern secession gave immigrants a chance to ̈declare patriotism
and allowed them to display their braveness ̈ (2), They wished to display their loyalty
and that their hearts were in fact, with America; they were “good americans¨. The
Democrat party took note of this and welcomed the Irish with open arms. In a way,
Democrats were taking advantage of the Irish, intentionally supporting them knowing
that this meant more votes for them. For the Irish however, this served as a helping
hand, to try and grab onto and get somewhere in the new world. By 1862, after the
Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest day in United States history, the nation was in
desperate need of men and resources. Lincoln called for “300,000 men” but many
refused to commit claiming “to serve is suicidal ̈ (2).

In March 1863, with the war continuing, Congress passed the Enrollment Act to establish a
Draft for the first time, as more troops were greatly needed. Wikipedia reports The Democratic
Party Tammany Hallś political machine ̈ had been working to enroll immigrants as U.S. citizens
so they could vote in local elections and had strongly recruited Irish, most of whom already
spoke English.¨ (1) Urban life was already prone to frequent violence outbreaks, including bread
riots, anti- immigrant riots, racial riots etc, but after the Enrollment Act was highly publicized,
immigrants as well as local citizens became outraged . Included in the Act was a leap hole;
citizens could pay $300 or furnish a higher substitute. In this time period, $300 was more than
the average annual wage for a New York City worker. Many believed the Draft was
unconstitutional and should be challenged in court. “That $300 has made us nobodys..we are
the poor rabble and the rich rabble is our enemy ̈ (2 ). Unfortunately this was the last straw for
the majority of New Yorkers, forcing them to serve. People questioned the American democracy
as this battle became a “rich man's war and a poor man's fight ̈. The documentary proved itself
to be much more valuable in this sense as they provided citizen point of views, allowing the
audience to be much more sympathetic and relate to those who have experienced such a
tragedy. Where Wikipedia described each of these events as more of an informative subject,
leaving out many of the details including how much men could pay to avoid Draft/ substitutes.
For example, “and wealthier white men could pay for substitutes ̈.(1) By being as specific as the
documentary was, the reader is well informed of the topic and provides a better understanding.

Furthermore, Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on

September 22nd, 1862. The Emancipation Proclamation Act announcing decree to “free” the
slaves, changed the game of the war. It freed a total of 3 million slaves residing in the territory
of Confederate land, however did not free all slaves. The Act transferred the nation for war; it
was society against society. Irish were not pleased with the Proclamation, fearing even greater
that competition between jobs, housing, and a place in society would be much more difficult
than it already was. The initial cause they were fighting for was shifting right from under their
feet. The Draft ultimately would result in thousands of Irish immigrant rebellions. Making it
the second largest and deadliest riot(s), after the South's rebellion. For five terrifying days New
York was in the hands of the riots. Streets themselves were used as weapons, the Irish would
dig up rocks, put them into a sling and let them fly. (1 & 2)

According to both sources, the first draft took place Saturday July 11, 1863, in Manhattan, New
York. Lincoln reported that all available troops would be needed at the front line. However,
after further thought, retracted that demand as one: they could not spare any extra men, and
two: he anticipated that the draft lottery could lead to violence, acknowledging the fact that if he
sent troops to stand by armed with weapons, it could increase the chances of people
questioning the intent of added security. At 9 am, the lottery began on 46 street, 3rd avenue.
1200 men were drafted, predominantly Irish (1 & 2) Monday morning, July 13th, the second
draft would take place. By this point many citizens had had the opportunity to discuss matters
over the weekend of their plans on how/when they would revolt. The documentary claims
50,000 men marched their way to 3rd avenue, 46th street, where the drawing took place.
Wikipedia claims “500 men” were present and that its location was “3rd avenue, 47th street .̈ (1)
Another contrast between the two is the specificity of the citizens who rioted. Where the
documentary claims “firemen, workers, men, marched to the drafting office ̈, (2)
Wikipedia claims they were “led by the volunteer firemen of Engine Companies .̈ (1)
Both however do mention the extent to which the protesters targeted the city. The crowd
threw large stones through windows, burst through doors, set buildings on fire,
destroyed vehicles, cut telegraph lines, and attacked trains. However soon the riots
shifted gears to a more political and racial stance. Attacking both Republicans and
African Americans now. (1&2) Blacks soon became symbols of the entire war effort. The
Irish obtained the mentality that if there were no blacks there would not be a war (1).
The mob beat, tortured and killed numerous black people, resulting in the deaths of 120
African Americans (1 & 2) but the film claims that the death toll is most likely as high as
several thousand given that we only know of innocent citizens + soldiers, NOT rioters.
Wikipedia also contorts to this speculation quoting ̈ at 2,000 killed and 8,000 wounded”.
The Colored Orphan Asylum at 43rd Street and Fifth Avenue, was a target to rioters as
it was a "symbol of white charity to blacks and of black upward mobility" (1). It was
attacked by a mob at around 4 p.m. Several thousand robbed the building of its food
and supplies, terrorizing its children and teachers but was soon contained as police
were able to secure the orphanage in enough time to allow the orphans to escape
before the building burned down.

Although the documentary provides much historical and empathetic evidence regarding the
five day riots, Wikipedia has deemed itself somewhat worthy as it provides much more
informative content than the document briefly mentions. Though quotes such as ¨to attempt to
remove all evidence of a black and interracial social life from the area near the docks.”, “White
dock workers attacked and destroyed brothels, dance halls, boarding houses, and tenements
that catered to black people.”, “Mobs stripped the clothing off the white owners of businesses,
destroyed their homes and businesses, such as James McCune Smith's pharmacy at 93 West
Broadway, believed to be the first owned by a black man in the United Statess”, “one man who
was attacked by a crowd of 400 with clubs and paving stones, then lynched, hung from a tree
and set alight.” and “They also attacked white "amalgamationists", such as Ann Derrickson and
Ann Martin, two white women who were married to black men, and Mary Burke, a white
prostitute who catered to black men.” (1) Each of these instances were not explicitly explained
further in the short film.

By July 15th and 16th, New York leaders still struggled with the task of containing the Draft riots
as it now had spread its roots to the city of Brooklyn; Wiki reports that an estimated 4,000
federal troops had to be pulled out of the Gettysburg Campaign in order to suppress the riots.
This prompted Governor Horatio Seymour known nationally as a Peace Democrat, to attempt
to placate the situation; he addresses all from the town hall and claims that he has sent someone
to Washington to cancel the draft, wishing for inequality to no longer exist. According to the
film, he addressed “the city friendly and tried to please them” (2) This entire section was not
mentioned in Wikipedia. The film also goes into great detail of additional anti-Draft riots that
were easily stopped as troops had arrived to assist. The New York Times reported on Thursday
that “Plug Uglies and Blood Tubs gang members from Baltimore, as well as "Scuykill Rangers
and other rowdies of Philadelphia"(1) that had come to New York during the unrest to
participate in the riots. When rioters were informed that their rebellions were achieving
nothing but violence, they relented peacefully. Essentially they were told that there is no point is
conducting a revolution as there is a revolution at the ballot box every 4 years. We must rely on a
democracy rather than street mobs to achieve our desires. The troops were finally able to
restore order, and by midnight of July 16, the New York City Draft Riots had come to an end.

Lincoln sets the draft to continue in New York in August- with no disruption this time. (1 & 2)
Most of the drafted men however chose not go, due to the council replacing the forceful law
with voluntary enlistments. Film accounts that a reported “23,000 men out of 800,000 drafted”
(2) went to the army where Wiki claims, “45,000 of 750,000 selected nationwide” (1)Most were
reported being African Americans who were trying to display brave patriotism. (2) As a result of
the riots, only 67 of the initial few thousands were convicted (2)New York's black population was
also reduced by almost 1⁄3. Wiki clarifies that this was mainly due to the fact that during the
riots, landlords, fearing that the mob would destroy their buildings, drove black residents from
their homes. As a result of the violence against them, hundreds of black people left New York.
The 5 day bloody riots revealed the depths of racism in the North, a dramatic debt reported to be
either $2.5 million (2) or $1–5 million (1) and would ultimately go down in history as one of the
deadliest revolts that have shaped our society.

Although both sources are [for the most part] historically accurate, it is the film, Civil War Draft
Riots that has proven itself to be a more accurately reliant source as it contains not only the
larger, most important details, but also accounted for the smaller ones that are equally as
important; where Wikipedia fails to do so in that department. Rather, gearing its focus towards
the days of the battle, neglecting the majority of the history, background and little details that
displayed such a crucial event in history.

Bibliography
1.) New York City Draft Riots
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_draft_riots

2.) In Search of History:Civil War Draft Riots Notes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EBkz3cb1tI