The New York City Draft Riots (July 13, 1863)

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Far too many see the Union war effort in the American Civil War as a monolith - patriotic men across the north from Maine to Minnesota, flocking en masse together under national colors - to fight to preserve the Union, and to rid the nation of the hateful institution of slavery.
As will be evidenced in this episode, nothing could be farther from the truth. Within the Federal Union in the summer of 1863, there was war-weariness. Men of influence like New York politician Samuel J. Tilden, and artist/inventor Samuel F.B. Morse dared to call for peace at any price. And it wasn’t only men of power - there were some men and women representing several societal classes who professed pro-southern sentiments. Indeed, New York City had its share of these so-called copperheads.
In February of 1863, a development added to their disaffection: the passage of the Enrollment and Conscription Act. A draft. So by the 4th of July that year, with word that Robert E. Lee was at the head of a Confederate army in Pennsylvania, and U.S. Grant’s siege dragging on and on down at Vicksburg, Mississippi, not everyone felt like celebrating independence. Too many saw no end to the conflict, and now, men were going to be forced to fight in it.
Taken all together, a cauldron of simmering, seething fuel - all that was needed was a spark, and it came on a Monday, the 13th of July. What followed, still the largest civil and most racially charged urban disturbance in American history. And now, its story.
Narrated by Fred Kiger
Produced by Dan Irving
Published by Third Wheel Media
We're looking for sponsors for this channel. If you're interested in learning more about this limited opportunity, email: [e-mail]
____________________________________________________________________
Some Characters Mentioned In This Episode:
Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel F.B. Morse
Horatio Seymour
George Opdyke
Thomas C. Acton
Horace Greeley
Source for this episode: James McCague, The Second Rebellion: The Story of the New York City Draft Riots of 1863, 1968 - www.amazon.com/Second-Rebelli...
Additional Reading: Iver Bernstein, The New York City Draft Riots: Their Significance for American Society and Politics in the Age of the Civil War, 1990 - www.amazon.com/New-York-City-...

[@marysalerno467]

Since the inception of the draft, no rich man's son has ever been drafted.

[@CanILaughInYourFace]

Fortunate sons.....

[@s.marcus3669]

How do you know? Are you familiar with the millions of men who have drafted since the Revolutionary War? I'm kinda guessing that you never served and that furthermore, you're an America-hating Leftist. Am I correct??

[@edwardrburgess3308]

A Republic needs no draft. An Empire does.

[@festina_lente7655]

You think the colonies during American Revolution were imperial powers with they conscripted soldiers to defeat the British? I think you've been watching too much ancient aliens and tiktok videos for your information. Literally ever republic in history conscripted soldiers when it was thought necessary.🙄

[@dale6613]

I had a comic book when I was a kid called Weird War Tales that dealt with this issue the ghosts of Draftees started the riots and the rich men got their come upance

[@jollyjohnthepirate3168]

Rich man's war and poor man's fight was said in the South as well. If you owned over 20 slaves you were exempt from conscription.

[@user-qb8yr4vb4u]

Yup, It's always the rich who start the wars and never fight them and call the poor cowards for not fighting their war.

[@montrelouisebohon-harris7023]

you are exactly right and those Southerners believed they were fighting for states rights and some men and my dad's family fought in the Civil War in Virginia ..the Union soldiers were pissed off later when they realized they were fighting against slavery because they were going into preserve the Union

[@andoriannationalist3738]

@@montrelouisebohon-harris7023you have it backwards. The union couldn’t get enough popularity for a war over states rights, the propaganda from wars for freedom for America against Britain was fresh. No working and poor wanted to fight to enslave people who were also poor and working, let them form their own home instead of a “King”, or federal president being all powerful.. no that won’t fly. So they brought out the slavery excuse. We’re fighting to end slavery! So effective idiots are repeating to this day.

[@longhairdontcare122]

I hate the south for picking slaves over independence. Britain an France likely would have helped out if not for the stubborn insistence on slavery.

[@andoriannationalist3738]

@@longhairdontcare122 no one picked slavery. That was unionist propaganda as realistic today as “the average person of Ukraine really wants to fight and die for freedom from Russia”. They don’t give a F, much like the average poor union worker back then. The country just got out of war, a war with a king like Fed Gov telling a smaller group of under dogs what to do. They wanted to let them separate, gooo. What? Oh now we’re fighting the evils of slavery? Dude, you are one of those people who scream “will you think of the children!” And we’re off to war to rescue non existent infants throw out of incubators on floors by Iraqi military.

[@tomc.4860]

I served 12 years in the army, and was proud to do it, but when my son was born I told my wife that no matter what, my son would never be drafted. I would support him in a foreign country and be happy he was alive.

[@herbvonderau4241]

Yeah I was gonna go to Canada after a friend who was in ww2 told me to go..but I enlisted instead.

[@SisSherryGoodlin]

I would flee to Canada to dodge Prohibition; however, Mexico may allure me with fish tacos, tequila, and smiling eyes of Mexican women.

[@BearFlagRebel]

The cop to the world routine is over. If he is a whi te male he shouldn't serve in any military capacity when it comes to this government and power structure.

[@Evocati-Augusti]

2 months after graduating High School a USAF officer showed up at my house at 4 AM , maybe an hour after I got home from a mushroom party in 1990, where before I left I took an even larger amount, my backpack was full next to the door and I was confused and just got in the car, it started to kick in hard because he was driving 90 MPH, 6 hours later I was in Texas...did a 8 year ANG contract but had to do a straight year and a half active when I got to my Operations Group, and then reenlisted in 2003-09, I got out because I was in Afghanistan at the end of 2009 and what they were saying on the news didn't fit the conditions on the ground, it was a lost cause already , you can love and serve your country and not agree with its foreign policy, when I was contacted to stay in I said" the military doesn't make boots high enough to walk in that kind of shit" I knew my mom and dad met in the USAF , but they never mentioned it to me as a option for me, I had good grades? what a trip...

[@bidenator9760]

You should put the country first if a draft happens.

[@PaulDeCamp]

My grandfather's grandfather, William DeCamp, was a New York City police officer during the riots. The story passed down to us was that he participated in helping to rescue children from the orphanage. He was proud to have made a difference for good. His name can be found somewhere in a magazine at that time but I have no idea where.

[@Qingeaton]

I would bet less than 1% of Americans know this story.

[@joefer5360]

The "Educational" system of today starts history right at beginning of "The Great Depression" or WW1. Anything before that time, has no relevance to the new history.

[@GroundZeroFightClub]

Id bet your wrong ,it is well documented and told many times . You may have to pick up a book

[@Qingeaton]

@@GroundZeroFightClub What a sad little guy...ohhh. I'm so smart....

[@GroundZeroFightClub]

@@Qingeaton well you thought you were smart being in the one percent of Americans who knew about the riots , all happy finally knowing something you and a limited number of Americans were in some sort of elite group . Your an uniformed nerd , nothing special , sorry if this news is hard to handle . Please get the professional help you need and try to read more books and stop with TV and your barbie dolls , and just for you here is a slogan that will help you improve your life BRING BACK BULLYING MAKE MEN

[@annhamilton7319]

Including me, history nut, who lived at 2nd Ave & East 30th Street and never had a clue

[@michaelm6863]

The value of history - preserved and well-related - to humans trying to civilize themselves (and their neighbors) can't be over-estimated. Thank you!

[@jasonc4882]

Just FYI here’s what I found about the origins of calling police coppers. “Some have proposed that the reason police officers are called "cops" is because of the New York force's copper badges. The source of this word is much earlier. Several sources say the usages originated in Northern England. The word "cop" is an old Anglo-Saxon verb for catch, grab or capture, deriving from a noun "cop" dating back at least to the 1100s. Some sources say this word related to the Dutch word kapen, with a similar meaning. The earliest written documentation of the form "cop" as a verb in English dates to 1704.” - Dr. Orville Boyd Jenkins

[@Civilwar.relics]

If you were anti union army in the north you were also called a copper head, and wore a Indian head Penny to identify each other

[@US_Joe]

The most prevalent documentations claim it was an English abbreviation for Constable On Patrol.

[@user-wr2cd1wy3b]

cop-shured. captured. yeah i can see the etymological link. and I can also see the connection between the copper badgers and changing the name from cops to coppers.

[@Wot50202]

“Constable on patrol.”

[@Civilwar.relics]

Here's on the word buck we use for 1$ originates from the skin of a dead deer, so all vegans I'll take your buck's 😆

[@TonySisneros-he3zx]

Thanks for the in depth on New York riots. You covered a lot and there is a lot I didn't know. Thanks for helping out a fellow civil war hobbyist. Please more.

[@unknownkingdom]

Civil war hobbyist is code for racist

[@RailfanDownunder]

Superb work again sir .... Fascinating and disconcerting - learnt much more after hearing about the Riots on the Ed Burns civil war DVD

[@user-tv3id2nf5o]

APPRECIATE YOUR DETAIL on the draft riots!!!!

[@OldHeathen1963]

Ha! He left a very important part out! You have to look at history back to front. Like the way it's lived. But if you do that, you won't think of The War of the Rebellion the same way ( Lost Cause )

[@Alan-jl7kh]

The history this country forever always targets people of African blood and descent SHAMEFUL?!!!

[@dhops2002]

Thank you so much for these videos, I love the history and you tell it so well.

[@royhall6367]

Thank GOD!!!!!! You are a wonderful narrator. You are someone with substance, a pulse. You aren't a robot. Unbelievable documentary. CANT WAIT FOR YOUR NEXT ONE. FIVE STAR JOB MY FRIEND.

[@lynnfisher3037]

Maybe its the latest new and improved robot. Very soon you wont know the dif. We are doomed. The end is very near. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@booognish]

@@lynnfisher3037I mean, the script could have been written by AI but the narration is definitely a real guys voice.

[@bjraymes4454]

Outstanding video. And I love your narration!!

[@InspectorNEK]

New listener here. I just discovered your channel, great work! I'll be coming back often to enjoy some of this engaging story telling.

[@Rob-gy1dd]

This is the absolute best podcast I’ve ever seen. Thank you so much for all that you do. Fred, I will become a member. The importance of your work and how you instill the meaning behind the events you cover are priceless. And I must say that your voice and delivery, to me, is unmatched. So so happy I found this. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@lonnieclemens8028]

Thank you for doing the research. It is interesting to hear about the politics of the northeast during the civil war.

[@DukeRaul]

These type of stories are right up my alley, thanks!! 😁

[@frankgraham1996]

A four day battle that rivaled Gettysburg complete with Union troops, artillery and canister fire with full canister shot...untold because it would blemish the legacy of Abraham Lincoln.

[@bruanlokisson8615]

How is putting down a pro slavery uprising in the midst of a civil war blemishing his rep and not another foul stain on the democrat party and NYC? Oh, you are a Democrat from NYC, nuff said.

[@Uomo_Universale]

I taught my kids that Lincoln was a monkey looking man with big ears who destroyed America.

[@whicker59]

U r correct. However, there r MANY reasons this event has been hid from public exposure, especially since LBJ's rise n political power.

[@frankgraham1996]

@@whicker59 What does LBJ have to do with what took place during the Civil war?

[@tomyoung8563]

Naw it wouldn’t make Lincoln look bad It would make yankees look bad and the nation is held together by their righteous cause myth

[@donaldmcmillan512]

Brillantly done as it shows it was a complex situation not just north v south

[@deborahvrtis4428]

I truly enjoy your narration of all these videos & I’m learning so much. The minute details do bring history to life. You remind me of a history teacher I had in college. Thank you!

[@elaztec.aztecca]

I was never aware of this, they didn’t teach this history in Alabama public schools in the 80’s and 90’s. Nope. Swept under the moral rug.

[@norriemcclure5927]

In KY during the 70s and 80s we also never heard of any of this.

[@igotfriendsinlowplaces2971]

I learned about this in the 90s in Washington state. We also called Indians Indians and not native Americans.

[@SinzDaG0DENT]

This wasn't taught in California public schools either, so I guess no state has a moral compass 😂

[@Bloodhound_Dogg]

Just because you seen it on a KZbin video don’t take it for truth…. Do your own research

[@igotfriendsinlowplaces2971]

@@Bloodhound_Dogg good advice 👍🏻

[@peterkerruish8136]

Thankyou, I really appreciate these podcasts. ❤

[@mrdorsch7395]

My dude, your channeling of the late Ed Bearss is excellent!

[@jeffzeiler346]

Great research, great narration. Thank you for this view into U.S. history.

[@NealBones]

This is one I've never heard of before! As always, I'll make sure to watch a couple of times for memories' sake 😉 thank you as always Threads crew

[@robert48044]

You never watched Gangs of New York? Its a movie but its how I found out about it initially.

[@NealBones]

@robert48044 No I haven't actually, I'll have to check it out!

[@robert48044]

@NealBones it's only a small part of the movie that takes place at the end but it's where I first heard of the riots

[@jasonroberts6080]

​@@robert48044same here

[@here_we_go_again2571]

An excellent video, beautifully narrated. Thank you for sharing.

[@Uneasy80]

I never knew about any of this,thank you!

[@darkbrownblm2854]

They don't teach this history in school, because southern descendants of Confederates believe their children would be traumatized.

[@exharkhun5605]

Attacking an orphanage. That's some truly epic victim-blaming and some logic tortured beyond any recognition.

[@here_we_go_again2571]

@ exharkhun5605 A mob has a mind of it's own. People who get in large assemblies that turn violent loose their sense of right and wrong. Add in some legitimate grievances held by the members of the crowd[1] and it is like a pile of dry tinder waiting for a spark to ignite it! _______________________ 1.) Favoritism for the rich; poverty, rising food/rent prices (war), competition for the same jobs (Irish in NYC slums vs. Blacks)

[@d.l.d.l.8140]

But good people on both sides, I’m sure. 😑 only %25 percent of the population can claim the lack of branches on their family tree. That means another %20 are just evil. And conservatives sit in the front row at church. Just part of why I’ve always kept society at arms length.

[@whicker59]

Given the era, the only thing I'd fault the rioters of, is murdering innocent black folks. However, given what the radical Republicans/LINCOLN had said & done, at least I understand why the rioters assaulted them; ironically enough, it was n reality the radical Republicans/LINCOLN faults. I know some won't understand what I just stated as a historian; but history has to be viewed n the context of the era it occured, not the present day.

[@mj-np9sy]

@@whicker59 This is such bull. There were countries ALL over the world, especially Europe that had abolished slavery long, long, long before we did. This is like your racist 80yo grandma going "Well it was just that time," when they literally lived through the civil rights era. There is no excuse for murdering children in an orphange, innocent civilians, etc. Don't cover for the atrocies with "but it was that time."

[@cx2900]

@@whicker59 no thoughts for the other innocent victims?

[@whicker59]

I highly commend ur research and presentation on this predominantly unknown part of American history. Uv got me now as a SUBSCRIBER.

[@tk00903]

If people knew the real reason behind wars today, most wouldn't fight them.

[@lynnfisher3037]

Are you kidding? If that were true there would be no one in uniform ANYWHERE.

[@GP_IDEAL]

Thank you. Another fantastic presentation.

[@ThreadsfromtheNationalTapestry]

Thank you!

[@user-po4lt7uj8y]

Wonderful work

[@richardyoder3646]

Another outstanding video

[@ThomasSavinelli]

Thx bro 🤝

[@Theboysrollupat1]

Phenomenal episode and explanation of the events that occurred. I appreciate your non biased approach to these topics. Keep up the great work!

[@OldHeathen1963]

🐴💩

[@frankgraham1996]

Forgotten History.. Abraham Lincoln was hated in the North almost as much as he was hated in the South. He was the first president to institute conscription ( the military draft) .... The burden of the draft fell on the poor as Lincoln exempted anyone who could pay $350 .. then a good deal of money, from his draft. So no matter what Lincoln said in his pretty speeches all men were really not created Equal to Lincoln. If you had money you were better than equal. There was chaos in northern cities , defunding of the local police . Free Workers in the North labored 50 to 60 hours a week in rat infested and poorly ventilated factories that included Saturday and Sunday for many. Child labor was part of it. To the Bank funded corporations of the North it was better to pay " free Workers" who did not have to be purchased and maintained but who could be hired for a pittance and then fired at will. Temperatures inside these factories exceeded 100 degrees FR even with no sun light. They labored under worse conditions than the southern slaves... and then came the draft that meant a high percentage of death in Civil War Battles for the poor.

[@darkbrownblm2854]

"They labored under worse conditions than the southern slaves" ? First, try laboring for free all of your life, be psychologically abuse and violently mutilated and you still won't know what it was like to be a slave.

[@frankgraham1996]

@@darkbrownblm2854 You beleive total myths... slavery was abhorrent as it was a caste system and families could be separated against their will and a slave could not chose his future....but overall the southern slaves worked outdoors and not inside rat infested and unventilated factories like the "free" worker in the North. In addition, Slaves had to be maintained and could not be fired. They were cared for as the property of the owner much like a new car of today... it cost $20,000 ( in todays money) to purchase a slave worker and after purchase there was no gain to the owner to MUITLATE or ABUSE his $ investment in the slave worker. So slaves Cost money ( they were not $ FREE) and there was also a maintenance cost that was not $ FREE . They had to be fed, clothed and provided with shelter and health care... .all out of pocket cost by the owner. No worker in the North or South was FREE of $$$ cost in any business. Slavery was opposed to the basic principals upon which this nation was founded and needed to be ended. But dont believe the BS that they were beaten all the time or that they cost nothing as labor. Workers in the North were forced to work for pittance of wages and they worked 60 hour weeks plus child labor. They could be fired for any reason or NO REASON and they were on their own to pay for food clothing health care and food. Many became beggars. So the free worker was forced to work out of necessity..... he could quit but would then starve. The health and well being of a free worker was of NO CONCERN to the owner of the Business. The free workers lived in rat invested tenements. That was the ugly side of the industrial revolution before labor unions came into being. This is not a defense of the Slavery system that did not allow opportunity for advancement but an attempt to enlighten those about the reality of life in America that was brutal in the 19th century for everyone ( North and South) except for the rich business owner.

[@lynnfisher3037]

Humans are SO great are they not. STILL the same.

[@domdom6624]

@@frankgraham1996You should wish to become a slave in your next life then if you think it was that simple.

[@michaelmanning5379]

A decade or so back there was a TV series "Copper" about a Five Points police officer that used the Draft Riots as a background. He was an Irish immigrant struggling to do his job amongst rampant corruption, both high and low. It did a good job of showing the squalid poverty and exploitation of the residents.

[@MelissaR784]

Was the draft riots before or after the riots that started at 5 point in the movie Gangs of New York?

[@OldHeathen1963]

Copperhead. Yes, Anglo treated Irish, German etc like 💩 Irishman didn't want to fight and die for freedman just to have him takes his poorly paying job.

[@djquinn11]

@@MelissaR784: GONY depicts the draft riots that happened in 1863. The scene in the movie was based on that historical event.

[@MelissaR784]

@@djquinn11 Okay. Thanks. That's what I thought. Funny how there's no mention of the deplorable conditions the Immigrant Irish was forced to live in and why they took aim in the wealthy neighborhoods to riot.

[@user-dv8np9gu4n]

@@djquinn11 There are many things of Lincoln that was not in our school history books . I've gathered many different untold items and truths ,but it never gets posted . I quit a long while back trying ,for if it's not Glorifying Lincoln it won't get posted.

[@hvillaca]

excellent. I am so glad I listened to this

[@Balrog-tf3bg]

Awesome video. As someone who didn’t know about this I’m glad to have heard it. Wonder how those officers and soldiers felt having to fire upon their fellow new yorkers

[@jefflebowski918]

Great video, very in depth. Ken Burns glossed over this subject in his documentary. It sounds like NYC has been a hotbed of riots since the early 1700's, glad my ancestors didn't come from that cesspool city.

[@lynnfisher3037]

Still a cesspool but of a different kind today.

[@colinvannurden3090]

First video ive seen. Well done.

[@lynnfisher3037]

Welcome to the late industrial revolution. I just purchased my first crystal set. Soon I will get one of those new-fangled telegraphs.

[@user-to7bz2pl1o]

Have to say another totally amazing vid lol it's early I am totally enjoying your comintary burn damn it I am trying to keeping my self awake every time😂😂😂

[@robertewing3114]

A competent sounding narrator, the jar behind the bar, was that Burns or Tennyisee-son?

[@user-55685]

I love your narration

[@edmundcharles5278]

The controversy of the military draft persists until this very day, since the concept and potential use of the draft exists as a legal mechanism via the mandatory registration of 18 year old males in the Selective Service system. The debate of the obligation of citizen to the state and the state to the individual remains unfinished unto the present day. As long as a war goes well and short, this does not present an issue, yet if a war goes badly then we experience a Vietnam War type disobedience!

[@Jay_Hall]

ed, no draft ever!!

[@tommydoeschile]

This is simply fantastic, amazing work guys. A real look into the most important time in American history. Our history is so important to remember and never forget. It wasn´t such a black and white war as we are often taught in school

[@alitlweird]

I like this narration. It harkens back to the early days of History Channel documentaries. 🥳 Every bit as good as Bruce Nash, Robert Powell, and Edward Herrmann. 🤓

[@OldHeathen1963]

No it doesn't

[@alitlweird]

@@OldHeathen1963 ok, then. What else am I wrong about?

[@leskobrandon8998]

@alit. Everything.

[@alitlweird]

@@leskobrandon8998 So then… this channel actually sucks?

[@ianschmitt4991]

​@@OldHeathen1963you're Free to be wrong about whatever you want. That Acoustic guitar background music during the introduction of the video was classic history channel 101.

[@jefferydupont5827]

Thank you 🙏

[@scottmcclain8379]

This is amazing!

[@jay34ever54]

Interesting and heartbreaking 😢

[@pcojedi]

Great video

[@archieclement2977]

If Lincoln had told union soldiers they were fighting to free the slaves he wouldn't of been able to get up an army.

[@desertdetroiter428]

That’s not why they were fighting anyway. He would’ve been lying if he told them that.

[@Dan-be7iu]

It's not as black and white as people would like it to have been... Always remember Lincoln was a politician and all politicians are liers. The whole thing is like debating whether a skunk is black or white, forgetting that either way it's still a skunk and now it's in your yard.

[@andrewsmith9174]

@@desertdetroiter428, boiled down, that is exactly what the war was about. It was about conflicts between slave owning and free states. I’m curious what you think the war was about?

[@CoastalReaction]

​@@andrewsmith9174clearly, the war was started by a jealous Marxian Northern elite.

[@amaru427]

​​are you familiar with the Corwin Amendment? Lincoln didn't care about slavery. By tacitly supporting Corwin's amendment, Lincoln hoped to convince the South that he would not move to abolish slavery and, at the minimum, keep the border states of Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina from seceding. The war was really fought over The future of America's economy being Agrarian or Industrial (not to mention the debt still due from the revolutionary War).

[@philbart7221]

Unbelievably well done!! WOW

[@aligarcia3792]

Always love assorted history Dyslexia made it difficult to learn and love history using this method I get a better insight and understanding and enjoy thank you very much

[@GroundZeroFightClub]

learn to read

[@richardmichaelflynn430]

Amazing ❤

[@alexshep3083]

This is so good

[@hukabuktx6766]

That was just a normal tour of the recruitment office. Mountains outta molehills.

[@fett333]

Another great video! Thanks for a detailed an unbiased account of the Draft Riots

[@OldHeathen1963]

🐴💩

[@OldHeathen1963]

That's crazy. So much left out, it feels like a crime against education!

[@headshot8888]

First time hearing about this. History freak from Canada.

[@petervitti9]

Lincoln was concerned that he would lose 1864 re-election. He sped up the war after Gettysburg.

[@chainsaw3577]

Lincoln was a real scumbag. Our entire government was founded on "compromise." Lincoln was the law-breaker.

[@harrylyme2913]

The 12th of July probably helped inflame the Irish a bit. Timing is every thing.

[@Mikefantasia22]

Gangs of New York Really captured this well

[@darksoul479]

Oh my goodness I've never heard this story.👍

[@thomasb.smithjr.8401]

It's noted that protests against the Viet Nam War didn't really begin to take off until the U.S. government began drafting middle class youth. Before that, it had largely been rural and working class white kids and the black urban poor. 🇺🇸

[@alteredbeast1974]

I did know about this, but i like hearing about it again

[@Desert-Father]

The Five Points, not Five Forks.

[@TrillHanks]

The irony in many of these peoples views is so obvious in 2024.

[@TowelsKingdom]

"A command performance indeed"

[@tiasara5967]

I dated george opdyke’s grandson, he said his grandfather would not speak of it.

[@mikeburch2998]

I was always under the impression that military service during the civil war was highly desirable. I guess not.

[@igotfriendsinlowplaces2971]

No one wanted to die to free slaves. They could care less

[@ryanpoe9791]

What you're referring to is called "the noble lie", otherwise known as "propaganda". The public schooling system, in "history" classes, is full of it, from the Civil War, to the world wars, to the "global war on terrorism". In 2024, only stubborn boomers still believe in the "official narrative". Everyone else sobered up.

[@Aurelian603]

Depends. Obviously, for your upwardly middle-class Northerner, serving as an officer in a fashionable regiment wasn't bad for one's resume, nor was military service undesirable for working-class men suited to intensive physical labor, fearing missing out on a significant generational event. When causalities mounted, people began seeing veterans return home disfigured with limbs missing, and stories about brutal campaigns began being disseminated widely - things started changing. Remember that service in the Union Army didn't guarantee you’d see action in the war against the South. Much of the buildup was as much about deterrents against French and British interference. There were also skirmishes against Native Americans. Still, like most labor-intensive jobs in the 19th century, it was filled with inherent dangers of sickness, monotony, and on-the-job injuries. Unique to military organizations, there's also bureaucracy, politics and hierarchy, and brutal punishments such as flogging.

[@tomyoung8563]

It was a good deal for Marxist German immigrants who were part of the 1848 up raising or poor Irishmen who had to eat

[@thruknobulaxii2020]

TBF, the presenter did say: “our use of the word.” By which I took him to mean the U.S. usage, rather than the original English or its European derivation.

[@bobpenny8011]

One inaccuracy - the draft is not gone. Jimmy Carter instituted mandatory draft registration, under penalty of law, which remains to this day, the only time draft registration has been instituted in US history during peace time. Now, draft registration for over 45 years has been the law of the land, only for males between the ages of 18 and 27. Five years in prison and/or $20,000 fine.

[@crackthefoundation_]

Not that this really helps, but in reality has this ever been enforced? I never joined and I'm 33 now, nothing happened

[@user-ce1cu2hl3b]

OUTSTANDING!

[@lynnfisher3037]

"And they are mild"

[@kenanacampora]

Are you sure all of this violence and loss was worth it?

[@kevinjohnson-lf3kj]

To save our Great Union..Certainly.

[@chainsaw3577]

​@@kevinjohnson-lf3kjEach state entered the Union under the agreement that their state would be "a resting place and a sanctuary for the persecuted White Christian." There is no other "Union."

[@kevinjohnson-lf3kj]

@@chainsaw3577 Worked Great back then.

[@chainsaw3577]

@@kevinjohnson-lf3kj Laws are immutable... Changing the Law is breaking the Law!

[@standingplain1]

@@chainsaw3577 If laws are immutable - then where does that put us back to the code of Hammurabi? Of course laws can change and should! It was a law in this country that you had to be a propertied white man to be able to vote. No women, blacks, poor, natives, etc... Of course laws can change.

[@flexabu]

“The new vulgar wealth from California.” Man some things never change.

[@joefer5360]

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[@user-to7bz2pl1o]

I may both have been able to keep up on ya vids old phone died took me a while to find ya again. Now to night I know I will sleep good 😂

[@jimpearson399]

There were riots in Boston as well. Nobody had to be forced to fight for the South. History is written by the victors. We were the bad guys in World War II as well.

[@kenya3685]

Is this the same riots that was in gangs of ny?

[@andyandreson3989]

Yes. It was loosely related.

[@michaelpjeffries1521]

I have ancestors who were on both sides of the underground railroad. And a relative in a New York state cemetery who survived Andersonville POW concentration camp.

[@Jay_Hall]

michael, I do to but they fought with the NY Infantry.

[@michaelpjeffries1521]

@@Jay_Hall he volunteered, nothing else to do once parents were gone. His father was schoolmaster. Second marriage for both widowed and widower parents. It was not easy being invaded in 1812 but still managed to make a son in law out of one of them for eldest daughter. All documented but hidden in plain sight online.

[@MeadeSkeltonMusic]

My condolences. I'm a proud Confederate

[@matildamarmaduke1096]

​@@MeadeSkeltonMusic as am i

[@OldHeathen1963]

He left a very important part out! You have to look at history back to front. Like the way it's lived. But if you do that, you won't think of The War of the Rebellion the same way ( Lost Cause )

[@darkbrownblm2854]

"Lost cause "? Interesting!! Please explain.

[@lynnfisher3037]

Why don't YOU make a video oh wise one?😂😂😂

[@rayhume1971]

Nothing could be FURTHER from the truth. Farther is a measure of physical distance. Further is figurative.

[@steveaustin7306]

wow. what an interesting story for film

[@alpineflauge909]

world class content

[@v8valiant68]

a prelude to what mite happen in 2024?

[@Spillers72]

The anti war peace movement didnt start in the 1960s with the Vietnam War, but in the 1860s during the Civil War.

[@yvonneplant9434]

Martin Scorsese tried to show the NY riot in his films, Gangs of NY. Not sure if he succeeded.

[@GROZNAYA]

A huge success because Cameron Diaz got punched in that one.

[@handsomeman-pm9vy]

Damn dude! Those Irish were going wild.

[@aconsideredopinion7529]

The fighting Irish😀😀

[@lynnfisher3037]

Hahaha. THOSE IRISH, THOSE BLACKS THOSE JEWS. Did I neglect any on the scapegoat list. Please add your personal favorite. You will find him looking back at you in the mirror. anyone

[@jorgecruzseda7551]

EXCELLENT EXPRESSION OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAJE 😊

[@haggis525]

Wonderful presentation! This is the kind of history show I remember from hallowed antiquity (the 1970's and early 1980's).... I loved it! Thanks from the Great White North.... a friend of the United States for rather a long while now.

[@ColemanCanna]

All sides need to take accountability for their parts. It’s that simple. Until ALL parties do, this will NEVER get better.

[@dpetrano]

Rest assured, British intelligence agents orchestrated whatever chaos ensued.

[@westyinzer4607]

When elements of the Army of the Potomac started to arrive things got real

[@lynnfisher3037]

The head of the Army of The Potomac was brain dead. McClelland I believe he called himself.😂😂😂😂

[@westyinzer4607]

@@lynnfisher3037 😆 McClellan was fired by then. But you are right about him being not a competent fighting general

[@YTT718]

These rioters always want leniency but never have any for their victims.

[@lynnfisher3037]

Duh!!!!

[@washguy9577]

We need these people now in 2024 we have no spirit or heart anymore and our nation is being stolen

[@edmundcharles5278]

Just think how bad things would have gone if there was not a Union victory at Gettysburg and Vicksburg????? The Union under Lincoln would have failed! Drafting men who do not desire to fight in a war are not going to make for motivated, well-disciplined soldiers!

[@nnnjh8372]

True, just ask Ukraine 😂

[@lynnfisher3037]

Hilarious. You meant to say brained washed brain dead robots. "For duty and humanity"😂😂😂😂😂

[@skyedog24]

Great stuff ❤

[@bradleygermain6288]

No man has the right to tell another to give their life and take another's. That is not the definition of freedom.

[@danielb27]

Wait, so everything we learned in school isn't true? Wow

[@lynnfisher3037]

Not according to the teachers unions! It's perfect as it is. Nothing to see here.

[@c.jjohns6758]

Thats funny the war was half over before slavery was ever brought up

[@JeremyHuffstickler-wi8cj]

"The Microwave Hearing Frequencies were a Success and Anyone describing the Visible Effects of the Microwave Hearing Frequencies Would Appear Crazy by Definition" Published in Dec 1975 after Mental Health Org. ran the Microwave Hearing Frequencies Test on The Population!