Mobs protesting the Civil War draft turn their violence on Black New Yorkers, lynching residents and burning the Colored Orphan Asylum.
At a Glance
- Date
- 13 July 1863
- Location
- New York, New York
- Category
- Civil Unrest & Racial Violence
- Source
- Contemporary accounts (1863) · Library of Congress
What It Meant Then
It was among the deadliest episodes of racial violence in 19th-century America.
What It Means Now
The riots underscored Northern racism even amid a war against slavery.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “The New York City Draft Riots.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-new-york-city-draft-riots/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). The New York City Draft Riots. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-new-york-city-draft-riots/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “The New York City Draft Riots.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-new-york-city-draft-riots/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.