1. Gangs of New York
Immigration, Urbanization, Politics, and War all combined in crazy chaos…FUN!

2. So immigration issues…
Mass immigration to the US
About 4 million arrived during the 1840’s and 1850’s
Mostly Irish and German
Why?
Irish Potato Famine caused by blight
Political instability in Germany
Nativism – intense hatred of immigrant groups
Why  taking jobs/taking resources/unskilled/different religion

3. The Five Points Built on the Collect Pond
Provided drinking water for NYC
Became very polluted…
So they filled in the pond
Caused infrastructure problems…
Poorest of the poor lived there
Mostly settled by the Irish

4. Hatred of the Irish Why? Willing to work for less
Brought crime and drunkenness
Mostly Catholic, not Protestant

5. History vs Hollywood! “Bill the Butcher”
Real name: William Poole
Butcher by trade, inherited father’s business
Died from a gunshot wound in a bar fight
Last words: “Goodbye, boys. I die a true American.”
Nativist enforcer
Leader of the Bowery Boys
Know Nothing Party  Political party
Immigrants = problem
Secretive when questioned by outsiders “I know nothing”
HISTORY!!! (Mostly)

6. History vs Hollywood! “The Priest” & Amsterdam Vallon”
Based on John Morissey
Father not killed…
Leader of the Dead Rabbits
Fought Bill in a boxing match
No epic gang battle
Enforcer for Boss Tweed
Hired to prevent Bill from rigging elections

7. History vs Hollywood! “Dead Rabbits”
One of the largest Irish gangs
Riots of 1857
Dead Rabbits vs Bowery Boys
Started when Rabbits destroyed Bowery Boys’ HQ
Police forces very unorganized
Just like the fire brigades…
Put down by the NY State militia
Name origin:
It is believed that an American journalist at the time did not understand the Irish word ráibéad, meaning "man to be feared". "Dead" was a slang intensifier meaning "very.“
So ráibéad kinda sounds like rabbits… therefore “Dead Rabbits.”

8. History vs Hollywood! Draft Riots
Outraged over draft
Could pay $300 to avoid draft
Civil War seen as a “rich man’s war, poor man’s fight”
Racial tension between African Americans and Irish Jobs…
Federal troops suppressed the rebellion
HISTORY!!!

9. History vs Hollywood! Boss Tweed Was the corruption really that extreme?
One of the most accurate things about the movie
Tweed used politics to gain profits
Thomas Nast political cartoons damaged his reputation
Eventually arrested/convicted
Stole between $25-45 mllilion
Tammany Hall – Political machine
Quid pro quo (This for that…)
Helped the Irish with jobs/other assistance
Got votes in return
HISTORY!!!