Dead Rabbits Riot

The Dead Rabbits Riot was between the Nativists, people who feared immigration, and the immigrants, predominantly people of German and Irish descent. The Nativists allied themselves with the Bowery Boys and the immigrants allied themselves with the Dead Rabbits. The Bowery Boys and the Dead Rabbits, were two of the most powerful gangs in New York City during the 1840s and 50s. The Nativists were outraged by the corruptness of immigrant saloons and the sale and distribution of alcohol. The Nativists were embedded into politics and were able to use their influence to enact laws that would predominately affect only immigrant populations. Alcohol was the life blood of German and Irish culture. In each culture, alcohol was consumed differently. For example, the Germans typically drank lager and viewed drinking as a family affair. The German beer gardens often had shooting galleries, live music, and bowling alleys. The Irish, however, typically drank whiskey, spirits, and beer. They typically only drank standing at a rail in a saloon. Alcohol was like water for immigrants. These two cultures were known nationwide to have a large control on alcohol and the Nativists began to call for temperance and blue laws. These laws restricted the sale and possession of alcohol, which would mainly cripple immigrant bars and neighborhoods. This prompted the immigrants to champion a politician, by the name of Fernando Wood, to become the mayor of New York City. Wood became invested in “machine politics” which used saloons and bars to fund his political campaign. He used his money to influence elections and law enforcement. Law enforcement was not without its own internal politics. The captain of the police force, Isaiah Rynders, owned many grocery stores, saloons, and taverns. All this gave Rynders the ability to influence elections and further corrupt the situation. Rynders was so well known for his actions that the John Slidell, a New Orlean’s politician, requested his services. An increase in tension by two separate political visions and a damaged and divided police force gave the Bowery Boys and the Dead Rabbits the opportunity to attack one another. This conflict was not isolated. It was just a microcosm of a nationwide debate on immigration.