The "Five Points" was a notorious slum formed by the intersection of Anthony, Orange, and Cross streets. It was the most densely populated and dangerous area in the world at the time. : Families crammed into rotting tenements.
: Riots quickly turned from anti-government to horrific racial violence. Duration : Four days of burning, looting, and lynching. subtitle Gangs of New York
: Catholic and politically loyal to the Democratic machine. Symbol : A dead rabbit impaled on a pike during battle. Political Puppet Masters: Tammany Hall The "Five Points" was a notorious slum formed
: Federal troops redirected from Gettysburg were required to restore order. Legacy of the Gangs : Riots quickly turned from anti-government to horrific
The conflict wasn't just about territory; it was a battle over the definition of an "American." The Nativists (The Bowery Boys) : William "Bill the Butcher" Poole.
📍 : The chaos of Old New York was the painful "birth" of the modern American melting pot.
The friction between classes and races exploded during the Civil War. The allowed the wealthy to buy their way out of the draft for $300, infuriating the poor Irish community.