Gangs of New York

Gentlemen, i was watching this film and stayed to think what's really real or fiction. How for example: gangs, lack of public order, etc.

Well the storyline is fiction, but much of the events are true, even going as far as the gang names. In the time period it is set, New York's slums were rife with ethnic tensions between various groups of immigrants, as well as people born and raised in the US, and they often formed gangs along these lines. There was also tension surrounding the draft for the Civil War, and in many cases as depicted in the film immigrants were drafted into the Army straight off the boat.

This in turn led to the New York Draft Riots which are depicted at the end of the film, and, like in the film, these bloody riots were used to settle gang disputes. Many black people were also lynched during the riots and people were attacked along ethnic lines. Estimates for the death toll of the riots were between 120-2000, and they were violently suppressed by the military as shown, including artillery bombardment of the slums effected by rioting.

I also find one of the aspects shown quite amusing, and it was fairly common in reality- the bit with the two rival fire services fighting over who gets to put out the fire.

it explains all, thx.

Thread moved to The Arts forum.

Originally Posted by Future Filmmaker

That's how riots should be handled.

Originally Posted by molonthegreat

That's how riots should be handled.

I think this is how the London riots should be handled. Just shoot the buggers.

My family were dragged into this back then too. I know some of them landed in New York and that all the youg lads had to join the american army as bloody cannon fodder in the irish brigade. In a way though, that won the good irish reputation in america that is still present today, it made people's lives easier living in america, the sacrifice those guys went through. I am very interested in this period in history just because it is so personal. The film seems so strange though, almost like.... " Did this actually happen? " I seriously question the accuracy of the film but who am I to know.

Like to see you say that next time you are in a riot!

I would never partake in a riot, since there are much more civilised ways to show your displeasure.

Actually, many of the characters in the film are composites of real people. The butcher was based on William Poole and he was indeed leader of a nativist sect and part of the Know Nothing political party. Red Rox Farrell, Slobbery Jim, and Hell Cat Maggie were also real people. The Dead Rabbits were a real Irish gang in the Five Points.

The Draft Riots were this violent. Lincoln was known to exercise swift authority on any issue issue even if it may have contradicted constitutional limitation. The draft itself was challenged for its legality, as conscription was considered a British colonial grievance. The film also accurately portrayed the common attitudes of that time that most people were ambivalent towards the war or outright hated Lincoln. They were just as racist as the south was in that time period. Many of the Irish attacked or killed blacks for fear that freedman would compete with them for labor since economic conditions were already harsh for Irish immigrants.

Originally Posted by Future Filmmaker

The Dead Rabbits were a real Irish gang in the Five Points.

The Five Points really did exist or still exist?

Originally Posted by Cleitonx1

The Five Points really did exist or still exist?

Yeah it did until they steadily demolished the slums. Now its pretty much split between the Civic Center of Manhattan and Chinatown.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Points,_Manhattan

The streets are still there, although better looking, what has changed is Paradise Square, they built the Daily Bugle on Paradise Square (Dont know the real name of the building sorry)

I felt like cheering when the Army of the Potomac showed up. :-)

Originally Posted by IronBrig4

I felt like cheering when the Army of the Potomac showed up. :-)

lol, I felt the same way. Its hard to be sympathetic to the mob after it starts murdering and lynching random people

One inaccurate depiction shown in the film was the navy firing into the city. The death and destruction would have been much more significant had that happened.

Originally Posted by manofarms89

One inaccurate depiction shown in the film was the navy firing into the city. The death and destruction would have been much more significant had that happened.

Not to mention the navy probably could not achieve the elevation necessary for bombardment.

But the damage adjusted for inflation today amounted to between $20 - $70 million. (1 - 4 million back then)

Originally Posted by Future Filmmaker

But the damage adjusted for inflation today amounted to between $20 - $70 million. (1 - 4 million back then)

Don't forget to adjust the casualties too - 120 dead translates to roughly 300 thousand casualties in 2011.

Originally Posted by Cocroach the great

Don't forget to adjust the casualties too - 120 dead translates to roughly 300 thousand casualties in 2011.

That made me laugh out loud.