The New York City draft riots, protesting the Union Army draft, remain the largest civil and racial insurrection in American history aside from the American Civil War itself.
I read this as New York residents rioted to try to avoid fighting for the Union army
Which is exactly what happened. It was a poor man’s fight and a rich man’s war, because you could pay a certain amount and have a substitute sent in your place. The poor of New York City rioted in protest of being sent to fight a war they didn’t want, and of the rich who supported the war not having to fight it.
October 3rd, 2015 10:13am