1863 New York City draft riots

1863 New York City draft riots were a violent uprising and the largest civil insurrection in American history outside of the American Civil War itself. Sparked by the first Federal draft lottery under the Enrollment Act, the unrest quickly escalated into a four-day race riot and class war targeting African Americans and the city's wealthy elite. The violence was ultimately quelled by the deployment of Union Army regiments, including veterans from the recent Battle of Gettysburg.

Background and causes

The primary catalyst was the Enrollment Act, which made all men aged 20 to 45 eligible for the Union Army draft. The law was deeply unpopular, particularly its provision allowing wealthier men to pay a commutation fee of $300 to avoid service, a sum far beyond the reach of most working class citizens. This inequity fueled existing anger among the city's large population of Irish immigrant laborers, who competed with free African Americans for low-wage jobs and feared emancipation would worsen this competition. Political opposition from Democratic leaders and newspapers, particularly the Copperhead faction, stoked resentment against the Lincoln administration and its war aims. The city's economy was also strained by wartime inflation, and many laborers sympathized with the Confederacy due to economic ties with the South.

The riots

The riots began on July 13, 1863, the day after the first draft lottery was held at the Ninth District provost marshal's office on Third Avenue. A mob burned the building and attacked symbols of authority, including New York City Police Department stations, the New York Tribune newspaper office, and the homes of prominent Republicans like Mayor George Opdyke. The violence swiftly turned racial, with rioters lynching African Americans, most notoriously William Jones, and burning the Colored Orphan Asylum on Fifth Avenue. Mobs also attacked businesses employing Black workers and destroyed property along Broadway. The city's police, under Superintendent John A. Kennedy, were overwhelmed. Governor Horatio Seymour initially appealed for calm, but order was only restored when Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton ordered Union Army troops, including the 7th New York Militia and battle-hardened units from the Department of the East commanded by General John E. Wool, to deploy with artillery on the streets of Manhattan.

Aftermath and legacy

The official death toll exceeded 119, though estimates run much higher, with thousands injured. At least 5,000 people were arrested, though few faced serious prosecution. Property damage was estimated in the millions of dollars. The riots caused a significant exodus of African Americans from New York City, with the Black population dropping by over 20% in the following years. The draft resumed in August under heavy military guard, successfully meeting its quotas. Politically, the riots damaged the Democratic Party, helping Republicans gain control of the New York State Legislature that fall. The event exposed profound social fractures over race, class, and the purpose of the war, highlighting the fierce opposition to the Emancipation Proclamation in the North. It remains a stark example of urban riot violence and the complex home front tensions during the American Civil War.

In popular culture

The riots have been depicted in several historical novels, most notably in Pete Hamill's *Forever* and Kevin Baker's *Paradise Alley*. They feature prominently in Martin Scorsese's film *Gangs of New York*, which dramatizes the period's gang violence and political corruption. The event is also a key subject in James McBride's novel *The Good Lord Bird* and its television adaptation. Documentaries such as PBS's *The Civil War*, created by Ken Burns, and the History Channel's *The Draft* have examined the riots. They are frequently referenced in academic studies of American urban history, labor history, and race relations.

Category:1863 in New York City Category:1863 riots in the United States Category:American Civil War civil unrest Category:History of Manhattan Category:July 1863 events