1863 Draft Riot

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1) 1863 Draft Riots “Gangsters of New York” was an historical film that conveys how New York was in the early 1860. In the 1860’s lower Manhattan also known as the five points which was a violent, lawless and home to poor immigrants like the Irish escaping the famine. New York City at this time was a massive rise of gangs (natives & the Dead rabbit), political corruption and Cultural meting pot. The movie not only showed you the environment, lifestyles and setting at the time but its shows an historical event known as the Draft riot of 1863. The 1863 draft riot was one of the largest devastating civilian revolts in American history. There were many reasons that cause the draft riot of 1863 such as the Enrollment act, Abraham Lincoln and…show more content…
The act allowed for a way out if the men were mentally or physical impaired, the only son of a widow, the son of infirm parents, or a widower with dependent children were exempt. The act also allowed draftees to avoid their civic duty by simply allowing them to pay $300 dollars to substitute for their enlistment. Three hundred dollars in 1863 can be compared to asking someone in 2015 to pay almost $6,000 dollars today. Another scene in the film, convey another Headlines stating “FIRST FEDERAL DRAFT IN U.S. HISTORY- the Enrollment completed. It stated that twenty-five thousand men to be drawn in the city and seven thousand in Brooklyn. The federal government entered all eligible men into a lottery to be…show more content…
The draftee names were being called out and surprisingly no riot. Another day came and the riot broke out which according to the movie consist of Irish, polish, German or another who couldn’t afford to pay the $300 substitution fee. In this scene were mostly men and few women moving about the city destroying, looting and burning down warehouse and homes of African Americans. Black found in the rioter’s path was clubbed beaten, hanged, burned and killed on sight. Tribute office, museum and homes were burn down. The rioters went to the rich neighborhood which according to the movie was 5th avenue killing and taking their goods. The rich were targets because they were the only ones who can afford the $300 fee and it wasn’t fair. The rioters felt it was a poor man’s war because the poor were the only one who couldn’t pay their way
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