Gangs of New York - History Review

This video is a historical review of the 2002 Martin Scorcese film, Gangs of New York. It goes over the historical inspiration behind the film and evaluates where it is accurate and where it fudged the timeline a bit. It covers the Five Points in New York City, gang violence in 19th century New York, the Irish experience in the United States as immigrants, the Draft Riots of 1863 and race, and corruption and the Tammany Hall Democratic political machine.
The script should refer to the book "Gangs of New York" as "non-fiction book." This was a scripting error.
Special thanks to my Patrons and Irish Thunder for being the executive producer of this episode!
/ historyclarified
Sources and References:
www.nychinatown.org/history/ph...
www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-c...
www.npr.org/templates/story/s...
Herbert Asbury - The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld
daily.jstor.org/race-and-labo...
Urban Masses and Moral Order in America, 1820-1920
By Paul Boyer
Five Points & Nineteenth Century New York with Tyler Anbinder -
• Five Points & Nineteen...
Mary Ryan - Civic Wars
Noel Ignatiev - How the Irish Became White

[@IrishThunder23]

Fantastic video. Great job pulling in historical quotes and references. Very well done and entertaining!

[@HistoryClarified]

Thank you. I'm glad you liked it! Thank you for being a Patron!

[@brianmccarthy5557]

He should like it. He's on the credits at the end. Fake review.

[@HistoryClarified]

Brian McCarthy as a patron, he requested that I do this video, so I did. That is one of my patreon tiers.

[@ryansweetapple4335]

​@@brianmccarthy5557 Crackerjack observation, Mr. McCarthy!

[@ryansweetapple4335]

IrishThunder = Hi 2 3 undershirt ... illuminate confirmed!

[@randomperson2597]

You know what isn’t accurate? Cameron Diaz’s Irish accent.....

[@johnvannewhouse]

HOW DARE YOU!!!!!!! ...lmao....

[@him050]

As a British person I didn’t even know she was attempting one, it’s that bad.

[@sc_r1ptv122]

@@him050 looool same

[@tezzo55]

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, that's cultural appropriation for ya

[@him050]

tezzo55 isn’t oi vey a Jewish thing anyway? 😂

[@stevenleslie8557]

Accurate or not, I love the ending with the time lapse graveyard to the present.

[@haydndavies2248]

And the music that plays as well.

[@CSDonohue11]

I still watch this movie every couple months.

[@kurtisgonzales37]

Gangs of New York is in my top 3 ALL-TIME favorite movies! It was scripted, and acted amazingly.

[@AnonymousAccount514]

it is the best part, coupled with leo’s narration “will they know we were here”...it makes me tear every time i see it

[@AnonymousAccount514]

@eric sosa yeah...its funny i cry at movies and music, but not irl

[@MrUnsolvedMystery]

I loved this movie even with the long running time never a boring scene Gets better every time I watch it. Daniel day Lewis is such a phenomenal and believable actor in this movie.

[@nunyabizness199]

I already wore out one dvd.. I was told that was not possible, but it is..

[@ntnrocket1]

It's a great movie, no doubt.

[@verycoolguy5947]

Where do they find you people? I don’t think I ever want to see it again it was so meh and everything was predictable.

[@Gfysimpletons]

@D Legionnaire took your advice. What a shit movie……..

[@Gfysimpletons]

@@verycoolguy5947 if you are talking about the mercenary, you are F’ING spot on……..garbage

[@kayyyp4939]

I can’t get over Daniel Day’s insanely amazing performance!! His character is one of my all time favs. He’s also one of the greatest actors ever

[@paulden3158]

He should have gotten the Oscar for best actor here, not Adrian Brody

[@user-we9oe6pr3e]

@@paulden3158 For sure!!!!

[@unrealuknow864]

He is a great actor. Daniel Plainview was another character he played perfectly.

[@scipioafricanus5871]

@@unrealuknow864 He definitely drink Adrien Brody's milkshake. He drink it up! FSSSTTT!!!! DRRRRAAAAIIIINAGE!!!!

[@Jakevrana]

@@scipioafricanus5871 dang, not I’m going to be saying that all day……… “DRAINAGE “

[@jamesc7277]

With regard to the Irish being given citizenship in exchange for service in the Civil War: My great grandfather, immigrant from Ireland in about 1860-61 was told that joining the army would grant him automatic citizenship, or so he said...it’s possible he may have misunderstood, he was an Irish language speaker who may have had shaky English skills. However, he served not only in the Civil War, but remained in the army as his career until he retired. In 1906, the year in which he ultimately died, he investigated his immigration (citizenship) status, discovered that he was, in fact, NOT a citizen. He remedied that situation, being sworn in as a citizen after a long career in the US Army and a relatively) brief period of retirement, during which time he married (an Irish-speaking Irish immigrant) and produced at least ten American-born children.

[@DaVeganZombie]

Hey, that’s awesome, thank you for the story and, I hope he’s resting proud knowing he’s got his legacy living strong!

[@bretteveretthowell3276]

Thanks for that I found that interesting.

[@Nightcrawler11052]

He had 10 children in the same year he died? What a legend!

[@realitynowassigned]

Ten? Tf?

[@999Giustina]

10 children were not unusual for that time.

[@mdevidograndpacificlumbera1539]

I remember watching this movie as a child, and thinking how unrealistic and fantastical it all was- dare I say even whimsical! With the top hats and costumes, the gang living in an old mineshaft or cave, Throwing fruits at performers on stage, brawling firefighters, etc, etc. It looked like a world from a fantasy novel. BOY was I surpirsed when I learned that's how people actually lived. Having grown up in the 90's and 2000's it seems so alien!!! Suffice to say, it is now one of my favorite films.

[@dukecraig2402]

Something else that happens in the movie that he touches base on but doesn't really go into is about Bill being a firefighter, the scene in the movie where two different firefighting outfits are fighting each other while the house burns feet away from them actually did happen all the time back then. In those days the law read like marine salvage laws, whatever the firefighters could salvage from out of a building became theirs, quite often multiple firefighting departments would show up at a fire and start fighting each other over the homes valuables and as a result the house would burn down while they were pounding each other out in the street. Also the richer a resident was the more he'd have to pay the local firefighters to keep them from intentionally lighting their house on fire so they could claim salvage rights over the contents of the house. Nice huh?

[@d.c.8828]

@@dukecraig2402 Yay, capitalism!

[@algini12]

If someone had told me this past December 2019, that we'd have a virus epidemic and protests all over the country over the death of one man, plus riots in Portland turning to anarchy, and another in Kenosha Wisconsin ready to become anarchy, I'd of said the same thing.

[@PogueMahone1]

@@dukecraig2402 That's pretty much the way things work under laissez-faire capitalist regimes -- in the absence of adequate law or governance, life becomes a racket run by gangs led by despotic bosses. It's also pretty much been the story of Western society from ancient Rome forward.

[@dukecraig2402]

@@PogueMahone1 Oh yea, sure thing, we can credit every bit of progress since Roman times as having come from systems run by totalitarian governments as opposed to capitalist systems, like the very KZbin that you're on right now. Do you say things just to make it look like you swallowed a dictionary or do you really mean that nonsense? Because if you do I really don't think you've thought things through very well.

[@LuvAndNotH8]

So we just gonna ignore the fact there actually was a cat woman...Hell Cat Maggie. That shits crazy.

[@freddymarsuc904]

Yeah can't see anyone talk about her

[@elyastoohey6621]

Most of this story is based on real stuff. There was a “priest” Vallon. Who likely was not an ordained priest, just as it’s inferred that Vallons status in the movie was a bit in limbo. Riots. Race problems. Massive political corruption. Ballot tampering. Starting to sound a lot like 2020. Hell cat Maggie was real, as were quite a few others.

[@cocksure8430]

C'mon man!! Every city has at least one Hellcat Mary....theres one begging in Leeds city, UK right now!!,😂

[@Sheepwillbesheep]

Irish women are nuts.

[@justinlast2lastharder749]

​@@cocksure8430 Same Francisco, LA, and Portland have them on damn near everyone street corner.

[@markmorgan9885]

I took a class under Prof. Anbinder (pronounced Anne-bine-der) when I was an undergrad at GWU. He said he had worked as a historical consultant on the film. He said every time he would point out the history of the time, Scorcese would shoot him down saying it has to match the tone of the film or he had had a dream about it. The only suggestion he had that was put in was the different color ballots for different parties used during the election scene.

[@HistoryClarified]

Thanks for the pronunciation guide since I cite him a lot! Yeah, for anyone who hasn’t listened to his interviews or lectures, I highly recommend it!

[@slickmechanical]

In the opening scene Priest Valon teaches Amsterdam the St. Michael prayer, however that prayer wasnt composed until the 1870s by Pope Leo XIII.

[@HistoryClarified]

I did not know that, thank you! More proof that Scorcese knew his 1800's history, and decided that order be damned, he was going to rearrange it however he liked.

[@Suave121]

If Scorsese said that Priest Valon recited the St Michael's Prayer in 1848 then by God he did

[@imgeorge81n]

Nerd

[@TheHalflingLad]

@@imgeorge81n Really, dude? Is that supposed to be a dig? You found a nerdy comment under a review of a 3 hour long period movie on a history-focused channel? Well I'll be damned, how is that even possible?

[@imgeorge81n]

@@TheHalflingLad nerds, both of you 🤓 🤓

[@williambarr3551]

There is a scene in Gangs of New York which amazed me, jaw dropping. From a ship at dock young Irishmen are disembarking, walking down the dock to land. On the dock is a desk with a Union soldier writing down names as a Union officer informs the Irishmen they are recruited into the Union Army. This scene reenacted exactly family lore of my Irish ancestor who arrived in NYC in 1861. He was recruited into the Union Army while disembarking from the ship he took from Ireland. He entered the 8th Connecticut Regiment; fought at Antietam, was wounded when AP Hill made his flanking attack against the Union left saving Lee's army. He settled in DC and for my family the rest is history. Great scene, good movie.

[@maryshaffer8474]

Ked to the conscription riots

[@dukecraig2402]

I've got a similar ancestor story except he got sucked into the Civil War when he got off a boat from Germany, promptly got his ass (literally) shot at some battle down in the Carolinas. Of course he survived the war, otherwise I wouldn't be here telling you about him.

[@toirmetalshaping]

Great fanily history story

[@CSDonohue11]

Lovely

[@ryand8293]

He saved (General Robert Edward) Lee's (traitorous) army by flanking the (whole) Union's left....(alone)? Confederate Rambo shit. Nice! Puts Benedict Arnold to shame. What confuses me, though, is how the Union ended up losing the war 🤯 I'm just glad he settled in DC like the conqueror he may or may not have been. Love live the lost cause! 👻 🤣...😐 what?!?!

[@jacsauvage]

So why isn't this stuff taught in schools? Why do I have learn about it randomly on KZbin? Amazing stuff.

[@PogueMahone1]

Because most local US school boards want you to know Jack Shit. US schools exist solely to produce fresh, young cogs and widgets to replace old, damaged, worn-out ones within our overheated capitalist economic machine. To it, we are not people, only interchangeable meat parts.

[@stevek8829]

Because schools don't have the years to teach every thing in the world. It's up to the individual, if curious, to learn more throughout life.

[@cushseth4276]

I think the real question is... why the fuck would they teach this in schools? History is about broad strokes, unless you're actually a historian. Hows that course work gonna go? Revolution, civil war, gangs, reconstruction, world war 1, world war 2... well, the point is "gangs" isn't quite as important as the other things on the list.

[@cushseth4276]

@@PogueMahone1 Well the purpose of public schools in general is to teach people how to be productive and improve the society in which they live. The purpose of public schools IS NOT to teach you how to think as an individual or whatever the hell else you think it is. Parents teach their children how to be "happy". Then you can pay to go to college that teaches you what you want to learn. We both kind of said the same thing, but you said it with way more snark than is necessary considering your lack of understanding.

[@Cagon415]

@@cushseth4276 teaching of gangs in a broader sense might actually do some good. It might give people insight on what people generally do when society takes away most of their options. Most people are ignorant to that.

[@tmcleanful]

Good choice - hit every notable entry that History Buffs hasn't covered. Was shocked that they haven't covered this one.

[@michaelmckinnon1591]

It was based on historical figures and events even Priest Fallon was based on a real person

[@SStupendous]

@@michaelmckinnon1591 If you watched the film you'd know that's not true. They're loosely based on historical people, some of them.

[@viggo1149]

This recommendation was spot on; stopped watching, watched the movie, enjoyed it, and came back to the video. Great job!

[@HistoryClarified]

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@SStupendous]

@@HistoryClarified Loved this video, jsut found it again - and watched it again. The main thing that bugged me - other than all of the soldiers wearing forage caps, and wearing them like Shakos - was the buildings. You mention that by then there were 5+ story buildings, important to mention. I've seen pictures of Civil War-era NYC with up to 9 stories, so buildings definitely are too small. Also, a key thing to note is the fashion; as someone very into 19th-Century fashion, they're all dressed very 1840s-1850s. Pictures of the time alone of typical city folk would tell you the fashion, much like most other historical details, is decades behind.

[@skyden24195]

Definite fan of the movie. When I found out "The Dead Rabbits" was an actual, historical gang, I became much more intrigued by the story portrayed in the film. Thanks for producing this insightful look into the actual history behind "Gangs of New York."

[@dukecraig2402]

Their name is the English pronunciation of the actual name of their gang. I heard it once in a documentary, it's pronounced "deed rabeen" or something close to that, it was a term in Irish that meant "large hulking man", it wound up being known as "dead rabbits" because that's what people thought they were saying when they told them the name of their organization.

[@skyden24195]

@@dukecraig2402 awesome. Thanks for the additional info.

[@ibhistory106]

dude. you should really dig the book. Book is quite decent. Not sure to the day on how accurate it is but it's a really interesting read

[@notmyname9625]

I think several of the gangs in the movie were real gangs of that area back then.

[@dylanlane3787]

Every gang actually named in the movie was a real thing back then. And William cutting "bill the butcher" was about as accurately portrayed as possible from what is known.

[@Oldschooldan1]

I always loved this movie. One of my ancestors was Isaac Varian the 63rd Mayor of New York from 1839-1841. He was the leader of Tammany Hall from1835 until 1842. He died one year after the draft riots. I really felt this movie portrayed the times and feel of that era. An absolute masterpiece!

[@natalie_watson]

That's cool as hell. How did u find out that info??

[@Oldschooldan1]

​@@natalie_watson My father is a historian and a genealogist. I spent most of my childhood being dragged around the country looking for dead relatives. I used to joke that I've met more of my dead relatives than living. Boring as hell when you're a little kid, but I so appreciate it today.

[@liferlanceadventures1465]

Love your stuff dude. You actually brought me into the game because I stumbled on your videos when looking at something I don't even remember. Keep it up my dude!

[@beowulf5106]

At the end of the movie, I like how Martin Scorsese do the time-lapse from 1860's to present on the same background scene while U2's soundtrack, "The hands that built america", plays.

[@johnnycash1365]

The hands that built America you say? Couldn't grow a damn spud though!

[@mookiestewart3776]

So black people????

[@kevinbushracing58]

@@mookiestewart3776 lmao!!!!!!!!

[@deadlyoneable]

@@mookiestewart3776 manual labor you mean? With out yt people nothing would have ever happened. In fact they should demand repetitions for what blk people have done to their creation.

[@itaxevasixn8808]

@@deadlyoneablebased

[@taipan185]

One of my all time favourite movies. Daniel Day Lewis was nothing short of amazing as Bill the Butcher.

[@josephvickrey5396]

How badass was Bill the Butcher? Spoiler for 18 year old movie He killed Liam Neeson!

[@anthonylewis9256]

Another bastard son of arron I've folded in the warmth of my embrace

[@stevet1396]

Daniel day Lewis is nothing short of awesome in nearly everything he does. Last of the mohicans will always be near the top of my all time favs.

[@taipan185]

@@stevet1396 Absolutely, the guy is easily one of the greatest actors of our time.

[@howey935]

DDL is amazing in any movie in my opinion he's the best actor that's ever graced the screen.

[@JJBird1118]

This was a great video and so interesting! I’m glad I found you. Can’t wait to watch more!

[@greghaar4147]

Fantastic job on this! I don't know why it took me so long to find this channel!

[@annodomini975]

Absolutely Phenomenal take on all this. Without making it a political focus, the potato famine was also coupled with the exportation of food from Ireland at the same time as the potato blight. Any irish (or even scot which experienced much the same treatment during the Highland clearances) would say that the immigration of gaelic populations, was the result of attempted genocide. The word "Famine" has been used to subvert the actual extent of the treatment of irish people, however when you look at that in context with Irish America, it helps to explain why the irish were very much fed-up, why they had to fight for even identity.

[@evelynwaugh4053]

Reading about this time, and the choices that English politicians made regarding famine relief is heartbreaking and sobering. At that time, there was also more of a determinist view of Christianity, and many believed that the poor deserved their dire fates.

[@annodomini975]

@@evelynwaugh4053 Absolutely. The very treatment has been coined after the name of the man responsible, Malthusian. After Thomas Malthus, who thought the poor simply the equivalent of rabbits, and that them dying would naturally remedy the imbalance in the economy.

[@MrSniperdude01]

@Anno Domini Well said !! Also explains why Irish parents were willing to sell their kids into "indentured servitude"-- a form of White Slavery. It was a better shot at survival for the next generation, however harsh. Funny how the world acknowledges the 1990s famines in Dafur & Somalia, the deliberate famine in 1930's Ukraine, the Deliberate famine in Cambodia under Pol Pot, yet when it comes to the Irish famine nobody wants to admit British Culpability. "Civilized people" don't do such horrible things

[@patrickpeppers]

@Tom Sanders It sounds like the state did a shit job since a million people died. They probably could have used some of those exports domestically to save human lives, but that was secondary to business and state interests apparently.

[@tomthx5804]

@@evelynwaugh4053 That part about Christianity believing the poor deserved their fates is totally untrue. Since the beginning of Christianity, they have always made a special effort to help the poor. I have no idea where you get such rubbish, except you may have read some of the more atheist style histories, where many untruths are told

[@DaVeganZombie]

Wow.... this was the fastest 20 minutes I’ve ever experienced. This is such a good video. I haven’t ever heard your channel but I’m checking your stuff out now. KZbin recommendations for the win.

[@Runey00]

This was just so awesome. I love this movie and it was great to see the historical accuracy depicted on fact rather than opinion. Keep up the good work! I look forward to more of your videos.

[@Szyperak]

"Did this really happen?" I asked my mother 18 years ago, when I first saw this movie. She didn't have an answer, but after all this time you've given me one. Thanks!

[@brendancripps8890]

Just found you and this video. Nicely done! Your review does a fantastic job dealing with one of the difficulties of being a historian and reviewing historical fiction (be it movies or novels). I particularly liked your quote "if you can put aside (historical inaccuracies) then this does a great job of capturing the themes of the era if not the actual history itself." This is a perfect way to describe the historian's quandary: enjoying a film or novel but getting slowed down by historical inaccuracies. Ever considered doing a similar review on "Glory"? Enough historical inaccuracies and still a fantastic film. Thanks again. Cheers!

[@RamblinRider]

This video is sooo good! And it did 1.5 million views! Why have you not done a whole series like this with historical movies?? I would watch them all lol

[@Dell88music]

I watched this video because i was curious about the accuracy of this movie. The fact that you're splitting hairs on some of these examples so much makes me respect this movie for being damn close to the mark, as well as a very entertaining, moving period piece.

[@ela7682]

its authentic not accurate

[@HistoryClarified]

That's a fair way of putting it. Listening to Anbinder's lectures, Scorcese was fully aware of the actual timeline, but knowingly compressed and scrambled events for dramatic effect.

[@spraynardkruger9903]

Yea, maybe went for immersion over historical accuracy.

[@dukecraig2402]

@@HistoryClarified Quite often movie makers have to do that to tell a story that takes place over a period of years inside of the amount of time a movie can run in, no movie executive's want to hear about a 14 hour movie. Besides, movies aren't history lessons they're entertainment, one of the biggest mistakes people make is learning history from movies, if I see something like Lawrence of Arabia and it sparks my interest in something then I'll start researching it, but I never quote verse about something that I learned about in a movie, that's a big mistake.

[@ViewThis.]

It's absolutely impossible to be accurate in a Historical movie. There is no way to avoid embellishment of some sort in the many different scenes. Fiction gets mixed with Non Fiction no matter what.

[@estarriol7]

And as a result, it's a great film, I was massively entertained, and sparked my interest in 19th Century American history, starting with Asbury's book. So much better than a more accurate, less entertaining film.

[@snodrod420]

Gangs of New York is one of my favorite Scorsese movies. My favorite D.D. Lewis film, and just an all around kick arse flick

[@danielueblacker9118]

sorry DDL his left foot...

[@ibhistory106]

better than My Left Foot or Linkoln?

[@frankdavis7909]

If you haven't watched There Will Be Blood, watch it. His best acting IMO.

[@mtatarko1]

Please, make more history movie reviews! It is amazing and I was always wondering how accurate this movie was.

[@djdrack4681]

Cool video. 10/10. - Great breakdown of even some of the minor parts of the movie - Great graphical cutscenes etc. - Great audio. (not monotonous).

[@natalie_watson]

Great points! Agreed!

[@markusandreas1273]

Wow! I thought almost everything was made up for this movie, I guess not! Good video!

[@mikemauro3119]

Usually when a movie is based on a nonfiction book, it's not all made up

[@kylemendoza8860]

It was.

[@jonathantan2469]

Especially the flying Irish ninja catwoman in the opening streetfight. Apparently she actually existed.

[@gregbors8364]

I thought Lord of the Rings was made up but then I found out that “men” were a thing

[@PalmelaHanderson]

Another fantastic example of "historical accuracy" vs. "historical authenticity." Sure, the dates aren't correct, the characters are out of place or made up, the timeline is fudged around, but the *experience* depicted is authentic. I think, in many ways, that's more important, especially from a storytelling perspective.

[@Telonious_Terp]

Yes, exactly... see this is what I've been trying to say!

[@tylerdurden788]

Made me look into my Irish heritage.

[@HavocHerseim]

No, it leads to this comment section... everyone believes this happened. Too stupid to get history right, so make a good story for the idiots.

[@PalmelaHanderson]

@@HavocHerseim The problem isn't that people are "too stupid" to get history right, it's just that the vast majority of people simply don't give a fuck. Most people don't get into history because their school teachers taught them well, but through a gripping movie or TV show. Emphasis on "gripping." Telling an authentic, engaging experience is more important than "well **actually** they wouldn't have worn **those** uniforms until much later, and the accent they're using is completely wrong."

[@Growmetheus]

So like assassins creed lol

[@exidy-yt]

Excellent video and commentary on one my favourite movies and a time and place period that has begun to fascinate me more and more, away from the 1790-1820 period i've been mostly fixated on. Thank you for creating this excellent video, I can't wait to see what else you come up with!

[@danevertt3210]

Why are you fixated on 1790-1820??

[@exidy-yt]

@@danevertt3210 Mostly the Napoleonic wars, but also the massive political upheavals that were taking place worldwide at the time: the bloody slave rebellions in the Caribbean, the South American colonies breaking away from Spain and Portugal etc.

[@danevertt3210]

@@exidy-yt yea I figured it would be napoleon heavy. I don’t blame you sir

[@darrenfreyauthor]

"Thank God, I die a true American." Villain or not, that line was beautiful!

[@SAVikingSA]

The thing is, he's not a traditional villain. He has clear convictions and motivations. The viewer might not agree with him politically, but he doesn't do anything really outside the norm of what the protagonists do. By the end, you have sympathy for Bill, culminating in the time lapse showing the march of progress surrounding his grave. It's genius.

[@darrenfreyauthor]

@@SAVikingSA that was very well said! Thank you.

[@SAVikingSA]

@@darrenfreyauthor one of the best parts of the film is the overlayed power structure. Bill is the "villain" as a nativist, compared to the Irish protagonists. The thing is, both are being victimized by the corrupt Tammany Hall system, who are probably the actual villains of the story. Then the godlike power of the Federal government crushes everyone. Faced with that, you end up sympathizing with Bill. He was a creation, not a monster.

[@cashnelson2306]

what does a "villain" have to do with how beautiful a line is lol

[@CoralCopperHead]

@@SAVikingSA ...I had the opposite problem. By the time the movie was over, my sympathy had dried up for *_everyone_* involved.

[@minimumcan]

Interesting that the Protestants and the Catholics brought their centuries old feud with them to mid 1800's New York.

[@julianshepherd2038]

Sometimes I think the Irish dont like being kicked around.

[@MortRotu]

@@julianshepherd2038 do you blame them?

[@Richard0292]

Common occurance tbh.

[@LegionaryAtticus]

@@julianshepherd2038 If that's true then they should've respected the customs and culture of their new home.

[@MrBagpipes]

Saxon do you mean learning to speak Native Americans' languages and practising their religions? Because the English language and Protestantism certainly isn't indigenous to America now is it?

[@solrebel7]

This story is about my neighborhood

[@christopherbolton4199]

Really good movie. Its just a seemingly perfect fit for describing the way the standards of life were in such times. Brutal and unforgiving.

[@alanharrison694]

Very well done. My father kept the original printing in the library, and I read it as a teen. After she film, I read it a second time as well.

[@inthedeadhours]

This was once the only movie TNT owned.

[@MrSniperdude01]

I did not know that. Kewl share

[@dukecraig2402]

This and A Christmas Story.

[@inthedeadhours]

@@dukecraig2402 oh God. Don't remind me.

[@dukecraig2402]

@@inthedeadhours TNT will remind us of that every year.

[@inthedeadhours]

@@dukecraig2402 this is my hell.

[@tjackfan]

Great video! Very well done. Came across this on my recommended list and really enjoyed the content. Will be subscribing and checking out your other videos!

[@weenzoriain6764]

As a Limerick man whose ancestors somehow survived the Great Genocide and avoided a coffin ship (as I'm still here bemoaning the rain); It always annoys me how people whinge about Cameron Diaz and Di Caprio's accents. The characters they play are born and bred in the USA so if they had a distinct dialect from a region of Ireland like I do, it would be strange.Their accents and characters are Irish-American and I've never had a problem with it. There are plenty of authentic Irish accents in the movie as Amsterdam (Leo) alludes to narrating and describing whilst walking through the 5-Points - great scene too

[@Dreyno]

Exactly. Accents in the US were just developing and we would barely recognise them today. First generation Irish-Americans would’ve had a weird mix of their parents accent and whatever the New York accent was at the time.

[@ComradeMarlow]

The firefighter scene is more accurate than many may think. The history of firefighting in that era is absolutely amazing and fascinating. Truly criminal stuff, with the engine companies fighting one another both figuratively and literally

[@iammrbeat]

So are you telling me people rioted and fought before 2020? Get out of town.

[@grindstone4910]

Over racial issues, no less.

[@PoopNuker]

About once every couple generations

[@EternamDoov]

It's almost like the USA was built on racism

[@kfrancis1872]

Lmao.

[@greensmurf6515]

We just kill more people during today's riots.

[@Hopscotchlemonadespritz]

A surprisingly rewatchable epic I haven't tired of. The sets and costumes create an otherworldly cinematic immersion 👽🌎 Memorable characters like the chilling, charming Bill The Butcher add significantly to the entertainment value, while historical inaccuracy is reason enough to dig deeper.

[@briancherry8088]

Great video. I would love to see more of this style of video. thanks.

[@seanstevens3371]

Just found this channel and I love it!

[@misterkefir]

Brilliant video! enjoyed it through and through. Thanks a lot and cheers!

[@danieljak2784]

William Poole didn’t die from the leg wound. He was shot in the chest after he fell to the floor. He did survive for 14 days after. Great video, love the history!

[@JafuMusic]

Oh yes. This is just the channel I need in my life.

[@jordansimpkins8784]

great video, so good that I liked and subscribed. Keep up the good work

[@johnbrownsahero315]

Even the Romans had street gangs, looks up the blues and greens.

[@HistoryClarified]

Sports hooligans before it was cool.

[@stevenleslie8557]

Until Justinian trapped them in the Hippodrome and had them all slaughtered.

[@craftpaint1644]

In Rome they were Guilds.

[@Justowner]

They tried to get political. Ol' Justinian showed them why that was a bad plan.

[@bg8224]

*Eastern Romans

[@ARCtrooperblueleader]

This remains my favorite Scorsese film. My only real issue with the film is that the editing of certain scenes is spotty, but can be ignored. It’s one of my favorite films of all time.

[@danielueblacker9118]

Goodfella's sorry, his mom is in it...

[@deedotyou]

Though not one of my favourite Scorsese movies, I still love it. You've done a great summary here. I feel like the production design and fantastical composition of certain scenes gives it the atmosphere of a large stage play at times, and almost gives the viewer an unconscious sense that what's being shown is a condensed, concentrated version of events at that time. Scorsese might have taken this approach because mostly what his true-story movies had been up to that point were in most cases being told through one or two characters and those specific characters' actions, whereas in Gangs of New York, while we're still largely following one central character, there are decades' worth of not just personal/gang history going on around them, but political and national history, particularly at such a formative time in the nation's development

[@Mo-mw4it]

Back in my catholic school years in Dublin, our history teacher played this for our class. All my 14 year old eyes saw was the violence, but watching it now I see it for the hugely important story it's trying to tell, that's still relevant today. Amazing film!

[@joetable663]

This movie got me heavily interested in US history

[@HistoryClarified]

My 8th grade US History teacher showed us the movie and then hastily paused at the Draft Riot scene yelling "wait the Navy never did that!"

[@michaelmckinnon1591]

@@HistoryClarified actually your history teacher was wrong, the US Navy did that to break up the rioting because of how bad it got

[@bwanaugonjwa2445]

I’m pretty impressed with your video. You definitely deserve more views and recognition

[@HistoryClarified]

Thank you. That’s kind of you to say.

[@larryhovekamp4318]

The book which the movie was based on, "The Gangs Of New York", did mention about Chinese immigrant presence before the Civil War.

[@vibeofthee80s_]

Wow I was hooked, this was such a great video very interesting and great explanations between comparisons to fact and fiction, I was definitely entertained and wanted more LOL Thank you for uploading definitely subscribing 6/27/23

[@OGDeepStroke]

Martin really had a 1800’s new york built for this movie.

[@robert23456789]

the magic of green screen and small sets

[@lordvlygar2963]

Yep... in the middle of Rome, Italy. It's still standing.

[@godofthisshit]

@@lordvlygar2963 Is it on the outskirts?

[@lordvlygar2963]

@@godofthisshit It's at Cinecitta studios, which I think is in Municipio vii.

[@lucasesteban48]

This is super interesting. Thanks for making such a great video on one of my favourite films!

[@HistoryClarified]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@setthehooktv6573]

paused 42 seconds in... and just gotta say... great video already... loved finding this in my feed.. and hope you bring this movie the credits it deserves... will comment after as well...

[@wanderingvagabond1634]

The biggest irony of the film was Daniel Day Lewis throwing a knife at a picture of Abraham Lincoln then portraying him 14 years later in another movie.

[@jameslawracy2666]

The only major inaccuracy is the scene around the church. That is a factual scene but happened in 1836 and was the beginning of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America. The story is good and factual but the sequence of some events is not always accurate.

[@jone70]

Great video, I love the film and I am pleased to see the tone, and themes were accurate. Now I'm off to watch it again......

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

This was a great, balanced review- with a lot of detail - I’d be interested in your views on ‘Far & Away’

[@DonnaSnyder]

So educational, and the beauty of the movie excerpts are grand.

[@toirmetalshaping]

Much of the same with the Irish here in what was Upper Canada, and then Canada. My Great Great Grandfather (Peter Ryan) could only make it to Alderman (St George Ward) in Toronto in the late 1880's. Interesting in today's climate. Good video!!

[@defhoez449]

And this many years later....people are STILL crammed into small apartments so the owners can get more money.

[@JoshuaCraigStrain]

Great job - Very well researched ! Thank you !!

[@trueblue4034]

Amazing job putting together much accurate info to create this video. Its def not easy finding all this out 🙏.

[@fiachoconnor]

Good job man. I enjoyed that. Its worth mentioning that these movies are theatrical and not documentaries, there "poetic license" is acceptable to tell a dramatic story.

[@Road_Rash]

As a historical reenactor myself, I've always loved the clothes in this film...excellent wardrobe...

[@AngryCanadianBacon]

Just wanted to say. I love this video. I hope you give us more content in the same style and I subscribed.

[@briansinger5258]

Can confirm. Movie is exactly what happened in New York in the 1980s.

[@dontworry5696]

Can’t wait to see the Gangs of Portland sequel!!!

[@ladylestranj]

I too was thinking that the Ds are the same today as yesterday...... lol

[@SukiStarFox888]

Wonderful video!! ..My friend was a NYPD detective for many years. He said by far the most vicious gang was the "Westies". An Irish gang centered in Hell's Kitchen. Jack said that if they got a "Westies" call, the officers would be pretty nervous. lol Makes sense... a long history of grit.

[@Dreyno]

Do what the cops here in ireland used to do when there was gang trouble. Put the kettle on and head down later to pick up the pieces.

[@danevertt3210]

The Westies did some vile shit at certain points of there active years

[@happyMOO5]

great viddeo. just discovered your channel cant wait to watch more

[@wesparsons5331]

Thanks for the content, nice work👍

[@childofthe80s]

This was a great watch!! I wish there was more content like this on YT. Just being silly here - but; my take away: riots and gang fights are normal, part of american culture and were once seen as a vehicle for democracy... which is hauntingly close to what has come from our current society... sigh. guess I need to go buy a top hat now... this actually made me a little less afraid of what is happening out there. Well done!!

[@steven401ytx]

You've got yourself a subscriber my friend. Great video.

[@HistoryClarified]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.

[@estarriol7]

A great historical review of a fantastic film, thank you

[@panchopantera7]

Now everything makes sense. Just a little knowledge can unleash an ocean of understandings. Thank you for this very valuable and relevant piece of American History.

[@memeshort5515]

Very cool, appreciate the history lesson. One of my fav movies, daniel day lewis, amazing

[@dave2808]

The scene of firefighters fighting each other and hearing how the municipality operated is interesting. They weren't ran by the city and on their own program

[@notmenotme614]

This is what happens if you had privatised fire or police. I’m surprised the film did not show a house and fire and the firefighters saying to the occupants “sorry we won’t do anything as you’re not a subscriber to us”.

[@LaddDentalGroup]

Solid video!! Thanks for the content

[@HistoryClarified]

Thank you.

[@jdghgh]

Great history video!

[@stevejohnson8034]

Fascinating! Thanks for the analysis of what I thought was a intriguing, but largely just a "sad" film. This video helps explain it's significance beyond it's spectical. Thank You!

[@KobraVR]

My favourite scene is the way the Natives melt out of the scenery and when Day Lewis strikes the ground with his stick and each time in zooms in on his eye 😄

[@ChristinaC-fj3yu]

I really enjoyed your video...great job😉

[@soopermexican]

Great video, thoroughly enjoyable and illuminating.

[@YesYouAreAbsolutelyCorrect]

Thank you for pointing out the Irish-African American relations. Irish in mass supported generally racist Democrats through out the 19th century and were active participants and instigators of the anti-black riots not only in 19th, but in the 20th century also. There's an active myth of "we are Irish - we can't be racist!", which is close to saying "we are German - we can't be nazis!"

[@fearmorpiercemacmaghnais7186]

Calling an entire people and country racist.... 😎😎😎 class act

[@YesYouAreAbsolutelyCorrect]

@@fearmorpiercemacmaghnais7186 I never did that.

[@thebonerfromhell]

Finding out about my countrymens violence against the Africans was very disturbing to me back when this film was made. Then, seeing a fair bit of racism in my own country, Ireland, in the early 2000s as we gained our own African and Eastern European immigrants made me realise that we irish aren't as friendly as some think we are. We're great over here at bigging ourselves up as the underdogs who fought through to win, totally forgetting our part in forging the world through violence along with every other nation. I guess people are just the same across the world.

[@YesYouAreAbsolutelyCorrect]

@@thebonerfromhell hiya, I'm sorry for coming out as a cunt towards the Irish, this "underdog" thing makes me overreact. I think it's the whole human nature to treat someone who's different this way. And it's also our nature to find the ways to connect. So you're absolutely right.

[@thebonerfromhell]

@@YesYouAreAbsolutelyCorrect nah, you're not being a cunt. It's true that the Irish gained whiteness through violent means and there were many Irish who who committed atrocities towards Africans in those days. Which strikes me as odd seeing as we were treated with similar contempt by the English.

[@brianpeck4035]

When i was young i looked through a garbage pile and found a book from the 1890s called "Darkness and Daylight or Lights and Shadows of New York Life" originals can be found cheap. It's full of etchings taken from photographs along with writings by a retired chief of police, a woman involved with a Christian charity and a detective. The cultures of gangs, sailors, beggars, pickpockets, opium dens and others are detailed. One of my favorite books ever! In it I found that the Humane Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals preceded and supported Child protection law!

[@fukcg00gle95]

Wow, I'll have to read that book for sure. Thanks.

[@ThePacificWarChannel]

Awesome episode, always loved this movie!

[@josephfeeley3476]

Good job young man! I'm 4th gen from Ireland. I can tell you stories of my great great grandparents! I"m a proud Texan, and enjoyed your prospective!!

[@matthewtaylordeoppressolib7141]

Good video, straight to the point

[@jovanweismiller7114]

I saw it when it first came out. Being married to a descendant of the Irish who fled because of the Famine I knew some of the errors you pointed out, but not most of them. Great video!

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Awesome job here ! Thank you so much! 💥

[@lordvlygar2963]

It was touched upon, so I will expand on it a bit. The Bowery Boys were mostly, if not all, firefighters. Their gang uniform is made up of their firefighting uniform with some added flare. I'm not sure if other gangs were the same way.