During the mid-1800s New York City was overwrought with conflicts due to economic, political, and population changes. Between 1840 and 1860 there was a huge influx of immigrants settling in New York City. The city’s geography and economy grew as a result. However, there was such a large disparity between wealth and population that the majority of New Yorkers of the time were forced to live in poverty-rife slums where gangs, drugs, alcohol, gambling, violence, and sex prevailed.
In 1849 the Astor Place Riots caused the deaths of almost 30 people and injury of 150. In the city at the time there were two actors who played the same role of Hamlet in two different theatres. The English actor, William Macready got the more prestigious position at the upper class and affluent Astor Place Opera House while the American actor, Edward Forrest, worked in a Broadway theatre that catered to the lower class. Many lower class New Yorkers viewed the English Actor as an insult to their culture, class, and nationality. In May this discontent led to a huge crowd of anti-Macready protestors being assaulted by a state militia manned by 350 men and horses. Many viewed the battle as the government attacking American citizens to protect a British man. The carnage sparked a protest rally in City Hall Park that became another mob that stood outside of the Astor Place Opera House days later. The Opera House was protected by almost four thousand soldiers, policemen, and deputized constables.
The Astor Place Riots drew national attention that caused debates about American society and government. What was the future of democracy? How should the riots have handled? Was the police force too rash, or should they have open fire as soon as there was disorder? Newspapers in Boston, Philadelphia, New York and Rochester covered the story. It was recognized that the riots originated from the timeless battle between upper and lower class, capitalists and workers. The working class had a universal resentment of those they worked for, believing that they were little better than machines the rich used. In the years leading up to the riots the working classes in New York City were organizing themselves by forming groups, parades, protests, and strikes. After the Astor Place Draft Riots, these organizations grew in popularity. One tailors’ protest led police killing two and arresting forty, which caused even more resentment.
During the 1840s and 1850s, New York City was becoming more diverse than many New Yorkers (the once dominant Anglo-Saxon Protestants) desired. There were cultural and economic battles between Anglo- Saxons and the Irish, the Irish and African Americans, etc. Education and religion became a major topic of debate in the ever present battle between Protestants and Catholics. Irish born Bishop John Hughes petitioned and campaigned for public funds for Catholic education. During elections, Catholics would only vote for those who supported Hughes’ claims which caused the appointment of ten Democrats. The number of voting Catholics and the potential power they yielded gave way to riots on election day of 1842. During the battle of religions, Protestants set out to reform Catholics by setting up missions in poor neighborhoods, distributing bibles, etc. Irish Americans held firm to non- assimilation.
During the mid nineteenth century there was a politician, Fernando Wood, who was able to draw enough power to become the city’s first strong mayor. Although he was corrupt, he was also well spoken, well liked, and had powerful friends. He served three terms as mayor starting in 1854. He had somewhat socialistic views, was power hungry, and used bribes and gangs to stay in power. He also naturalized immigrants, took more city control over municipal affairs, and tried to improve the lives of the poor. When Albany passed several bills in 1857 Wood’s power was weakened and he was arrested. The Metropolitan police force, which took Wood’s power, then faced several battles and riots among Irish gangs, Germans, and other Five- Point inhabitants. There was an economic crisis that was caused by banks attempting to collect after distributing too many loans and over one hundred thousand people were unemployed. This led to the 1857 Bread Riots where participants demanded the right of employment. New York City’s economy became tied to the South and, during debates on abolition and secession, Wood’s ‘free city’ program was discussed. Washington started to get worried but when the Civil War began, the city’s businessmen decided to support the Union.
Another conflict of the time was the 1863 Draft Riots, during which over a hundred people were killed, thousands fled, hundreds were injured, and property was damaged. With the Civil War came a need for soldiers to fight in it. The national draft was inaugurated and there was little getting out of it. Only those who could pay three hundred dollars for a substitute were exempt from the lottery. The Civil War became “a rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight.” During the riots the rich were targeted, the politicians were targeted, and African Americans were targeted. The effect was President Lincoln agreeing to halve the number of people drafted in New York State. Organizations worked to help buy out firemen, policemen, and poor men who were needed to support their families. “The Draft Riots were the most brutal riots the nation had ever experienced and remain so to this day.”
In the mid nineteenth century population, race, politics, and the economy all caused New York City to become a passionate city rife with turmoil and changing views.
