Conflict Between the Irish and African Americans | New York: A Documentary Film

Learn about the social conflict that erupted in the 1863 Draft Riot in this clip from New York: A Documentary Film. Fueled by fears of economic competition from freed African Americans, religious bigotry from Protestants, and a new draft that exempted the wealthy, Irish New Yorkers launched racist attacks against New York’s African American community. The documentary and primary source documents will help students understand how Civil War can heighten divisions between groups who are supposedly on the same side.