The Draft Riots of 1863: A Dark Chapter in American History

The Draft Riots of 1863, also known as the New York City Draft Riots, was a series of violent protests in New York City in July 1863. The riots resulted from widespread resentment and anger towards the federal government's conscription (Forced by law) of men into the Union Army during the American Civil War. The riots are considered one of American history's deadliest and most violent civil disturbances.

In the early years of the Civil War, the Union Army relied on voluntary enlistments to fill its ranks. However, as the war dragged on and casualties mounted, it became clear that more troops were needed.

 In 1863, Congress passed the Conscription Act, which mandated the drafting of men between the ages of 20 and 45 for military service. The law was deeply unpopular in New York City, which had a large working-class population and many Irish immigrants.

The draft was scheduled to begin on July 13, 1863, and tensions began to rise in the days leading up to it. On July 11, a group of Irish workers attacked African American men in the city, setting off a chain reaction of violence. Over the next few days, mobs of angry working-class men took to the streets, looting stores, attacking government buildings, and burning homes and businesses.

The violence quickly spiraled out of control, with the rioters targeting African Americans, who they saw as competition for jobs and resources. Lynch mobs roamed the streets, lynching and beating African Americans, burning black-owned businesses, and attacking homes and churches. 

Many African Americans were forced to flee the city for their own safety. The New York City Police Department could not control the rioters, and the governor of New York was forced to call in the National Guard to restore order. The military brought in troops, and after several days of fighting, the riots were finally suppressed.

The Draft Riots of 1863 resulted in 119+ deaths, including many African Americans and Irish immigrants. Thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed, and the economic impact of the riots was felt for years afterward. The riots also highlighted the deep racial and class divisions in American society and the challenges the nation faced in its struggle to preserve the Union and end slavery.

After the riots, the government changed the conscription system, exempting men who could afford a $300 commutation fee. However, the underlying issues of racial and class inequality were not addressed, and it would take many more years of struggle and activism before these issues were addressed meaningfully.

No formal reparations were paid to the victims of the Draft Riots of 1863. The federal government did not provide financial compensation or assistance to those affected by the riots, including the African American community, who were targeted and victimized by the violence.

In fact, the government's response to the riots was primarily focused on restoring order and punishing those who had participated in the violence. 

The military was called to suppress the riots, and thousands of rioters were arrested and imprisoned. The government also instituted measures to prevent similar riots from occurring in the future, including changing the conscription system to allow men to buy their way out of the draft.

While the government did not provide any formal reparations, there were some grassroots efforts to assist the victims of the riots. 

For example, the American Missionary Association, a group of abolitionist ministers and activists, raised money to help African Americans displaced by the violence. The organization set up temporary relief centers in New York City and provided food, shelter, and medical care to those in need.

However, these efforts were limited in scope and could not fully address the needs of the victims of the riots. 

 

Shopkeepers did help the victims of the riots of 1863, but no reparations were paid on the government level. According to the University Of Massachusetts (2023), " The shopkeepers raised over $40,000, equivalent to $825,000 in 2021 (para. 4). 

The legacy of the Draft Riots of 1863 continued reverberating through American society, highlighting the deep-seated racial and class divisions at the time and the ongoing struggle for civil rights and social justice in the United States.

References

 

LibGuides: Reparations in the United States: Home. (n.d.). https://guides.library.umass.edu/reparations

 

Taurean Reign Reloaded. (2023, January 4). Black Massacre Series Ep .1 | The New York City Draft Riots Of 1863 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7LXCpezO5Q