<P> U.S. President Abraham Lincoln diverted several regiments of militia and volunteer troops after the Battle of Gettysburg to control the city . The rioters were overwhelmingly working - class men , mostly Irish or of Irish descent , who feared free black people competing for work and resented that wealthier men , who could afford to pay a $300 ( equivalent to $9,157 in 2017 ) commutation fee to hire a substitute , were spared from the draft . </P>
<P> U.S. President Abraham Lincoln diverted several regiments of militia and volunteer troops after the Battle of Gettysburg to control the city . The rioters were overwhelmingly working - class men , mostly Irish or of Irish descent , who feared free black people competing for work and resented that wealthier men , who could afford to pay a $300 ( equivalent to $9,157 in 2017 ) commutation fee to hire a substitute , were spared from the draft . </P>
those most likely to have taken part in the new york city draft riots of 1863 were
those most likely to have taken part in the new york city draft riots of 1863 were
working - class men , mostly Irish or of Irish descent ,
working - class men , mostly Irish or of Irish descent ,