On this day in 1863,

Lincoln Orders Draft

Deadly Race Riots Follow in NYC

120 Killed

Worst civil/racial insurrection other than Civil War

A Hip Hughes History video summary

On this day in 1863, as the North was running out of volunteers to fight on behalf of the Union, Congress authorized the draft of male citizens and aliens intending to become citizens between the ages of 20 and 45 who could not buy their way out of service by paying $300 or find a substitute. The draft act set off protests throughout the North, the worst of which occurred in New York City where the protests turned into a race riot, with white rioters, predominantly Irish immigrants, attacking blacks throughout the city. The military could not afford to send forces to regain control of the City until after about 120 people were killed, and public buildings, black churches, homes of abolitionists and blacks, were burned down. 43 regiments were later positioned outside the City to protect against more rioting, including Union troops sent over from Gettysburg. Aside from the Civil War itself, the riots remain the largest civil and racial insurrection in American history.