Controversy over The Draft in the Civil War
(Harpers Weekly, "The Riots At New York-The Rioters Burning And Sacking The Colored Orphan Asylum")
As I mentioned above, the federal government first exercised the authority to require national conscription as a result of the Civil War. As a reaction to the Confederate States being the first to institute the draft in 1862, numerous Southerners did not exactly support the idea. Widespread violent resistance occurred with this lack of support for the draft. Causing even more turmoil, when the Union set in motion its first draft, the United States experienced some of the most violent anti-draft protests in its history. Panic and outrage quickly swept the country at the time. One main cause of these protests was the fact that if a man could either afford to pay a commutation fee or supply a substitute as replacement, they were basically off the hook (Wagner, 2007). The working class obviously deemed this loophole as discriminatory.
In addition, blacks, which were not considered citizens, were exempt from the draft. Prior to the war, newspapers contained disrespectful representations of blacks. They mocked the idea of equal rights in voting, employment, and other social aspects. This mockery added to the tension between blacks and whites. When our country entered the Civil War it began to suffer economically. Many white people believed that their authority and economic status were diminishing while, at the same time, they were convinced that blacks were acquiring more power (New-York Historical Society).
Primarily the violent protests occurred in New York City. More than a hundred people were killed by riots and arson due the implementation of the draft. Following, a five-day riot involving numerous killings began on July 13, 1863. At first, the attacks were directed solely on government or military buildings. The mob persisted to burn down the draft office in the city. Throughout this riot, however, mobs heartlessly harassed black people and their supporters, destroyed their property, and even killed some of them. Overall, the rioters lynched eleven black men during this riot. As a result, countless black people were essentially forced out of the city (Harris, 2003). The pictures below from an old newspaper attempt to demonstrate the horrific outcomes of these riots, but I cannot even imagine what it was like for the black families during this time of ruthlessness.
In addition, blacks, which were not considered citizens, were exempt from the draft. Prior to the war, newspapers contained disrespectful representations of blacks. They mocked the idea of equal rights in voting, employment, and other social aspects. This mockery added to the tension between blacks and whites. When our country entered the Civil War it began to suffer economically. Many white people believed that their authority and economic status were diminishing while, at the same time, they were convinced that blacks were acquiring more power (New-York Historical Society).
Primarily the violent protests occurred in New York City. More than a hundred people were killed by riots and arson due the implementation of the draft. Following, a five-day riot involving numerous killings began on July 13, 1863. At first, the attacks were directed solely on government or military buildings. The mob persisted to burn down the draft office in the city. Throughout this riot, however, mobs heartlessly harassed black people and their supporters, destroyed their property, and even killed some of them. Overall, the rioters lynched eleven black men during this riot. As a result, countless black people were essentially forced out of the city (Harris, 2003). The pictures below from an old newspaper attempt to demonstrate the horrific outcomes of these riots, but I cannot even imagine what it was like for the black families during this time of ruthlessness.