In the mid-summer of 1863, tensions in New York had reached a boiling point. To replenish the Union Army after devastating casualties, Congress had passed the enrollment act, enacting the first draft. In New York, many of the newly arrived immigrants had been pushed by Tammany Hall and other political machines to become citizens, which made them eligible for this new draft. These newly minted citizens became incensed by the prospect of being drafted, and the anger quickly grew. The drawing of the draft numbers was a spark that drove the city into what would become the worst race riot of its history. Days later, anywhere from a hundred and twenty to more than a thousand were killed, thousands more injured, and with many prominent African-American and Abolitionist buildings destroyed.

The Civil War marks one of the bloodiest events in American history. During the Constitutional Convention, compromises regarding slavery were made in order to ratify the Constitution and form the United States of America. The framers of the Constitution recognized the moral issues surrounding the slave trade but many were not prepared to give up slavery's economic benefits, in order to make true the phrase "All Men are Created Equal." As the nation expanded westward, the debate over slavery intensified. The northern states, who largely opposed slavery's expansion believed the federal government should stop its spread. The southern states rallied behind the notion of state's rights in order to protect their slave-trading interests and allow for its expansion to the newly forming states in the West. Tensions, which had been largely kept in check throughout the 1840s and 50s reached a boiling point with the election of President Lincoln in 1860. Following his inauguration, several states succeeded from the Union, sparking a brutal war lasting four years. The war resulted in the end of slavery throughout the United States and the passage of important Constitutional Amendments, which would be used throughout the nation's history to advance civil rights to marginalized groups. As you explore some of the important locations associated with the war in New York, consider the following questions: What role did New York play in the Civil War? What effects did the Civil War have on the "home front?" New York Social Studies Scope and Sequence Standards 4.5c, 7.8c,d, & 11.3c For Teachers: Lesson Plan for Civil War in New York