The Draft riots took place in July 1863; it was a response to the Draft passed by Congress. Most of the public were angered and unhappy about the Draft, mainly because it was unfair since all the wealthy class men were able to get out of it by paying a fee. Mixed in with tensions long harbored, the Draft Riots were a chance to act out on all their sorrows. The rioters were mostly working class men.
The Draft riots will take place during the movie in a very important scene although the significance of it is very different historically.
Source for Text: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Draft_Riots
