Harold Holzer moderated a discussion of New York City’s only “Civil War Battle,” the 1863 Draft Riot. In the summer of 1863, riots erupted in New York City over new laws that drafted more men into the Union Army. Working class immigrants were especially affected by the laws and began a five-day riot. Topics included the character and extent of the riot, the efforts of the mayor, governor, and President Lincoln to quell it, and the lasting toll it would have on the future of New York City. The panelists also responded to questions from members of the audience.
This event, “The Draft Riots: 1863,” was presented by the New York Historical Society at the New York Society for Ethical Culture.