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riots

The Riot in Ogdensburg, 1871

November 6, 2022 by Richard White 5 Comments

Andre Massena Baron De Camin article from the Ogdensburg Daily Journal Aug 19 1871On Friday, August 18th, 1871, “The Riot at Ogdensburg” was the New-York Tribune’s title for its detailed review on the rapid rise of an Irish mob three days earlier – which the paper labeled “a formidable riotous element” – in the small, quiet port of Ogdensburg on the St. Lawrence River.

For two days, the mob’s threat of violence, and violence itself, was so intense that the mayor deputized nearly 100 men to restore law and order. [Read more…] about The Riot in Ogdensburg, 1871

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, History Tagged With: Irish Immigrants, Nativism, Ogdensburg, Religious History, riots, St Lawrence County, St. Lawrence River

July 4th Riots in Lake George: Some History

July 6, 2022 by Anthony F. Hall Leave a Comment

Warren County Sheriffs’ deputies arresting two unidentified youths for disorderly conduct courtesy United Press InternationalThe July 4th, 1965 weekend in Lake George Village culminated in riots in which 350 youths were arrested, at least according to the newspapers of the day.

Two hundred police officers were required to keep “the Bermuda clad, barefooted, out-of-state college kids” under control, one newspaper stated.

That was not the first Lake George youth riot, nor would it be the last. [Read more…] about July 4th Riots in Lake George: Some History

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, History Tagged With: Crime and Justice, Journalism, Lake George, riots, Warren County

Fires of Philadelphia: A New Book On The 1844 Nativist Riots

May 27, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Fires of PhiladelphiaBook purchases made through this link support New York Almanack’s mission to report new publications relevant to New York State.

In 1844 America was in a state of deep unrest, grappling with xenophobia, racial, and ethnic tension on a national scale that feels singular to our time, but echoes the earliest anti-immigrant sentiments of the country.

In that year Philadelphia was set aflame by a group of Protestant ideologues — avowed nativists — who were seeking social and political power rallied by charisma and fear of the Irish immigrant menace. [Read more…] about Fires of Philadelphia: A New Book On The 1844 Nativist Riots

Filed Under: Books, History Tagged With: Catholicism, Cultural History, Immigration, Irish History, Irish Immigrants, Nativism, Philadelphia, Political History, Religious History, riots

The Orange Riots of 1870 and 1871

February 5, 2017 by Miguel Hernandez 4 Comments

orange riotIn the 19th century extremely violent conflicts took place between mostly Northern Irish Protestants (Orangemen) and Irish Catholics.  The Orange Riot of 1870 began on July 12 (known as Marching Day in Northern Ireland), when a parade was held in Manhattan by Irish Protestants celebrating the victory at the Battle of the Boyne of William III, the King of England and Prince of Orange, over James II in 1690. [Read more…] about The Orange Riots of 1870 and 1871

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Black History, Immigration, Irish History, Nativism, New York City, NYC, riots, Tammany Hall

The New York City Draft Riots of 1863

January 29, 2017 by Miguel Hernandez 11 Comments

A drawing from a British newspaper showing armed rioters clashing with Union soldiers in New York.In September of 1862, President Abraham Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation. It would take effect January 1, 1863, and free slaves in areas of the nation still in rebellion against the Union. Despite its limitations, free blacks, slaves, and abolitionists across the country hailed it as one of the most important actions toward full abolition.

To immigrant New Yorkers (principally Irish) the Emancipation Proclamation was confirmation of their worst fears  – that they would be replaced in the labor market by recently emancipated blacks from the South. [Read more…] about The New York City Draft Riots of 1863

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Black History, New York City, riots

Buffalo’s Dug’s Dive Riot of 1863

January 16, 2017 by Miguel Hernandez Leave a Comment

dugs-dive-buffaloNot much has been written about this civil disturbance that occurred on the afternoon of August 12, 1862 when Irish and German stevedores protested against local dock bosses, demanding increased pay for their work, and preventing others from working however when police responded the rioters overpowered them and Chief Dullard and other members of the force injured.

Ultimately the police regained control of the situation with gunfire wounding two rioters and arresting the ring leaders. [Read more…] about Buffalo’s Dug’s Dive Riot of 1863

Filed Under: History, Western NY Tagged With: Black History, Buffalo, Labor History, Maritime History, riots

The New York City Police Riot of 1857

January 9, 2017 by Miguel Hernandez Leave a Comment

police riot of 1857Unlike most of riots reviewed in this ongoing series, which pitted civilians against civilians and interventions by police or militia forces to restore order, a June 16, 1857 riot was a battle between the forces of the recently dissolved New York Municipal Police and the newly formed Metropolitan Police. [Read more…] about The New York City Police Riot of 1857

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Black History, New York City, riots

The Astor Place Riot/Shakespeare Riots of 1849

January 2, 2017 by Miguel Hernandez Leave a Comment

astor place riotThis conflict occurred on May 10, 1849 at the Astor Opera House in Manhattan, New York City. When it was over an estimated lay 25 people lay dead and more than 120 injured when militiamen fired into an unruly crowd that had gathered in front of this theatre. Incredibly, the riot was triggered by the appearance at this venue of a famous British Shakespearean actor, William Charles Macready. It seems that he was as involved in a bitter rivalry with an American actor, Edwin Forrest, and each man was revered by a contingent of diehard fans. [Read more…] about The Astor Place Riot/Shakespeare Riots of 1849

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Black History, New York City, riots, Tammany Hall

The Flour Riot of 1837

December 26, 2016 by Miguel Hernandez 1 Comment

flour riot 1837Generally speaking, riots tend to happen on hot summer days but the Flour Riot erupted on a cold winter night in February of 1837. The attack on warehouses was sparked by a fear that food was being hoarded by wealthy merchants in lower Manhattan and people in the lower classes might face starvation.

In reality, the rumors which inflamed the crowd were greatly exaggerated, lasted about a day and the vandalism which resulted was fairly minor, especially when compared to such later disturbances such as the Astor Place Riot or the colossal Draft Riots. Nonetheless, the Flour Riot was a significant affair because it underscored a growing divide in the city between New York’s prosperous merchant class and a quickly growing lower class of newly arrived Irish immigrants. The riot was also memorable because new method of communication, the “penny press,” had helped to inflame tensions. These cheap newspapers, widely available to the poor, had spread dangerous rumors and provoked a mob to attack a warehouse where flour was stored. [Read more…] about The Flour Riot of 1837

Filed Under: History, New York City Tagged With: Black History, Crime and Justice, Culinary History, New York City, NYC, Panic of 1837, poverty, riots, Troy

Grave Robbing And The Doctors Riot of 1788

December 20, 2016 by Miguel Hernandez 3 Comments

new york hospitalThe origins of this civil disturbance began in early February of 1788 and broke out in mid April of that year. Actually the City’s doctors did not riot as the name implies. However, it had its origins in the illegal procurement of corpses of free blacks and slaves and poor whites by doctors and medical students at an unaccredited surgical training school in lower Manhattan led by Richard Bailey, a Connecticut-born doctor who had studied in London.

Apparently it was expensive and almost impossible for the school to provide corpses for its teaching purposes and the professors and students resorted to stealing them from nearby Trinity Church yard and other local cemeteries including the one for people of color then known the “Negro Burying Ground” [Read more…] about Grave Robbing And The Doctors Riot of 1788

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Alexander Hamilton, Black History, Cemeteries, Columbia University, George Clinton, Medical History, New York City, riots

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