‘Balefully Glares Red Arson’: The New York City Draft Riots Erupt

This is the second part of a three-part series on the New York City Draft Riots, the U.S. Civil War, and the use of martial law in the United States. Click here for part one.

The New York City Draft Riots, which took place from July 13–17, 1863, began with work strikes. Throughout that first morning, thousands of railroad and dock workers, artisans…