This day in history: The New York City draft riots began on this day in 1863. In New York City, opponents of conscription begin three days of rioting which will be later regarded as the worst in United States history.
"It is true that conscription was tried for a time in the Civil War, but it seems to have done far more harm than good. The Draft Act became law in March of 1863 and the first call-up was made the following July. The resulting “draft riots” in New York, Boston, and other places necessitated the calling of regiments from the battlefields of Gettysburg to shoot American citizens who were rebelling against the then un-American idea of conscription.
Pitched battles raged in the streets of New York City for several days. Hundreds of people were hanged or shot, and property damage was enormous.
Some historians claim that one of the reasons General Meade didn’t follow up his advantage over the retreating army of General Lee after Gettysburg was because so many of his soldiers were engaged in suppressing the “draft riots” behind his own lines.
The Draft Act was so unpopular that it garnered fewer than 50,000 soldiers, or less than three per cent of the total forces, in four draft calls! It hurt morale, encouraged favoritism and graft, and may well have actually lengthened the war." Source
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