Introduction and thesis
"The Government will be able to stand the test, even if there should be a riot and mob in every ward of every city."
- Edwin McMasters Stanton, Secretary of War during the Civil War
Introduction
The motto of "a rich man's war, poor man's battle" is an appropriate description of the N.Y.C. Draft Riots, which sparked chaos and mass destruction throughout the city for four days. From July 13-16, 1863, mobs dominantly made up of Democratic Irish immigrants flooded the streets of N.Y.C. They attacked anyone who resisted them and destroyed buildings.The riots occurred in the midst of the Civil War and the Conscription Act. The Irish rioters sought to express their dissatisfaction with the draft law, their ire towards the Republican Party, and their hatred of the city's wealthy elite and African-American residents. The draft riots reflected not only an accumulation of tensions among various groups of people, but also the Irish's decision to use violence as an outlet for these tensions.
The motto of "a rich man's war, poor man's battle" is an appropriate description of the N.Y.C. Draft Riots, which sparked chaos and mass destruction throughout the city for four days. From July 13-16, 1863, mobs dominantly made up of Democratic Irish immigrants flooded the streets of N.Y.C. They attacked anyone who resisted them and destroyed buildings.The riots occurred in the midst of the Civil War and the Conscription Act. The Irish rioters sought to express their dissatisfaction with the draft law, their ire towards the Republican Party, and their hatred of the city's wealthy elite and African-American residents. The draft riots reflected not only an accumulation of tensions among various groups of people, but also the Irish's decision to use violence as an outlet for these tensions.
Thesis Statement
The Conscription Act of 1863 was the main factor that caused the Irish immigrants to act upon their anger and protest in the New York City Draft Riots. The Conscription Act had worsened the tensions that were already dividing up the city and thus failed in its attempt to draft more soldiers into the Union Army.
The Conscription Act of 1863 was the main factor that caused the Irish immigrants to act upon their anger and protest in the New York City Draft Riots. The Conscription Act had worsened the tensions that were already dividing up the city and thus failed in its attempt to draft more soldiers into the Union Army.