Today in History: The Draft Week Riots

On this day (July 13) in 1863, riots called “Draft Week” began in New York City in protest of legislation to draft men to serve in the Union Army. The riots lasted four days and Abraham Lincoln had to bring troops in from Gettysburg to restore order to the city. The riots turned especially ugly when mostly Irish rioters turned their anger on blacks living in NYC, in protest of having to fight a war over slavery.