draft riot of 1863

English - English

Definition of draft riot of 1863 in English English dictionary

Four days of violence in New York City to protest the inequities of American Civil War conscription. The law permitted draftees to buy their way out of army service for $300, a sum relatively few men could afford. When the drawing of names began on July 11, mobs of Irish and other foreign-born workers surged into the streets, burning draft headquarters and other buildings, and assaulting blacks, who they had feared would take their jobs. About 100 people (mostly rioters) died

Hyphenation

draft ri·ot of 1863