The New York City Draft Riots could be considered one of the most bloodiest incidents that happened in the history of New York City and it happened in 1863. This was an insurgence by the people who revolted against the new laws passed by the Congress that mandated young men to fight in the Civil War. While the rich and the upper class were able to pay an amount of $300 to be exempt from the service, the poor Irish immigrants were unable to do so and were drafted. The immigrants were angered to being forced to fight another war after fighting one in their home in Europe.
Although, initial protests started out merely to prevent the men from getting drafted, the mob continued to become increasingly violent during which they burned out several federal buildings as well as homes. Two of the famous places to be burned where the Orphanage for African American Children and also Ninth District Provost Marshal’s office. Further violence also ensued in places uptown as the mob stormed into the upper class homes in anger towards the injustice.
The riots lasted for three days during which several soldiers from the Union army were called in to calm the mob down. The rebellion caused the death of over a hundred people with several others injured and severe property damage for the city. The famous film, Gangs of New York, by Martin Scorcese dealt with the drama of draft riots against a semi-fictional arena. The film showed the bloodthirstiness of the mob and the intolerant event that happened in the city.
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