Mob Mentality on the Second Day

The from the events of the second day's draft riots, we can clearly see that the mentality has changed. Whereas before the actions of the mob could be taken as an organized, albeit a violent, political protest, now the mob has descended into pure anarchy. As J.T. Headly put it, "The spirit of hell seemed to have entered the hearts of these men". These people were now openly looting, lynching, and burning anything they could connect to the war. The crowd targeted "places that represented the war effort, the Republican party, and/or social privilege" (Context to Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper). Any political aspect of the mob was stripped from media coverage. In each of the illustrations from the second or third days, the men and women are poor, animalistic, and brutal. Juxtaposed against the image of the well dressed and well organized mob of the morning of the first day, we can easily see that difference in character that the group has taken on as time progressed.

Prime evidence of this is Stoddard's comments on "exemption-money" in The Volcano Under the City. The city "Board of Aldermen" came together and appropriated "$2,500,000", an outlandishly high fee at the time, and even today, which would pay for the draft wavers of those called. The thought being that the mob was made up of draft protesters, and that by buying them out of their draft ticket, the mob would dispel. Perhaps, had the appropriation come out the day earlier, it would have been successful, but as it were the money feel on deaf ears. Indeed Stoddard continues, "An appropriation twice as large would have been just as futile". The crowd was no longer concerned with the draft as it's central issue, but it gave lead to the pursuit of violence and thievery.

As such I would argue that the draft calls were merely the spark that instigated a social uprising unheard of before or after in American history. It was an excuse for the disillusioned and impoverished's racial and social tensions to boil over and erupt, like a Volcano Under the City. Do you agree, or was the draft the main issue of the riot?

Totsiens,

Jon

Mob Mentality

What interested me the most from the articles was the supposed double nature of the draft mob. At points it seemed as if the mob followed a clear plan or leadership at the least, whereas other times it seemed as if the group's direction was lost. For example, when members of the mob took to cutting the telegraph lines connecting the number of precincts and police departments in New York, I took this to be very well reasoned, almost militaristic. One of the first actions in a military engagement is to cut one's enemies' lines of communication. To realize that the police were using this system to organize counter movements against the mob and to take the initiative to protect their plans is a complicated process that is usually not seen in a domestic disturbance, especially one that boiled over and erupted just a few short hours earlier. Similarly, attacks on the Tribute building, Draft office, and Colored Children's orphanage seemed all very organized, if not misguided.

On the other hand, random looting and property damage, along with street lynchings and beatings seem more characteristic of a mob beyond control. Looting and assault were also seen in Detroit in the 1960s (Don't quote me on that date) and following Hurricane Katrina's devastation in New Orleans. These are the actions of individuals and small groups rather than an organized force.

So my question is; was the mob organized by any central figure or authority, or were they a heterogeneous group prone to violence whose only common feature was a frustration with the civil war?

Also, I found this neato (Oh yes, I said neato) map of the riots which helps put things into perspective. My gift to you all.

Auf Wiedersehen,

Jon

Originally from Mr.Lincoln and New York