The+New+York+Draft+Riots+of+1863

 The New York Draft Riots of 1863 came about after Abraham Lincoln's 1963 Enrollment Act of Conscription created a draft that angered many who thought the war was never-ending and wanted nothing to do with it. Many upper class individuals were exempt from the draft by a fee that allowed them to buy their way out, but the vast majority of the poor in the city were not exempt. The New York Draft Riots of 1863 came after the draft was instilled in New York; Abraham Lincoln's 1963 Enrollment Act of Conscription created a draft that angered many who thought the war was never-ending and wanted nothing to do with it. Many upper class individuals were exempt from the draft by a fee that allowed them to buy their way out, but the vast majority of the poor in the city were not exempt. Traft was introducedisheaseed blacks would come in droves and take over the labor force. This view was endorsed by the current Democratic Party, and the poor whites were convinced that the draft and freedom of black slaves would result in their economic suicide. When the names of the first draftees appeared in the newspapers, groups of angry citizens banded together and terrorized the East Side of NYC for three days. Blacks were often the target. The police were sent in, but often racist as well and did not do much to quell the riots. Federal troops were sent in by Lincoln to break up the looting and destruction and restore order. After the riots, many places refused to hire blacks, fearing brutality from angry whites, thus fulfilling the rioters initial purpose of keeping blacks from taking their jobs. During the following years, the black population in NYC dropped significantly.

SOURCES http://lachlan.bluehaze.com.au/books/albon_man/labor_ny_draft_riots_1863/ http://www.civilwarhome.com/draftriots.htm