Flour riot of 1837

Flour Riot of 1837 was a significant event in the history of New York City, marking a period of economic hardship and social unrest. The riot occurred on February 13, 1837, and was primarily a response to the rising prices of flour and other basic foodstuffs, which had become unaffordable for many of the city's working-class citizens.

Background

The early 1830s were a time of economic growth and prosperity in the United States, often referred to as the Era of Good Feelings. However, this prosperity was not evenly distributed, and by the mid-1830s, the country was entering a period of financial uncertainty, culminating in the Panic of 1837. In the years leading up to the riot, a series of poor harvests both in the United States and Europe had caused the price of grain, and consequently flour, to skyrocket. This situation was exacerbated in New York by speculators who hoarded flour in hopes of selling it at even higher prices.

The Riot

The immediate cause of the Flour Riot was the announcement by merchant Eli Hart that he had a large stock of flour available for sale at $12 per barrel, a price out of reach for most working families at the time. On February 13, a crowd gathered outside Hart's warehouse on Washington Street, demanding that the flour be sold at a fair price. When their demands were not met, the crowd turned violent, breaking into the warehouse and looting thousands of barrels of flour.

The riot quickly spread to other parts of the city, with protesters targeting not only flour warehouses but also other symbols of economic inequality. The New York City Police, overwhelmed by the size and ferocity of the crowd, were unable to restore order until the militia was called in. By the end of the day, numerous people were arrested, and several were injured, though there were no reported fatalities.

Aftermath

The Flour Riot of 1837 had a profound impact on New York City and the nation as a whole. It highlighted the growing economic disparities in American society and the potential for violence when those disparities went unaddressed. In the immediate aftermath, there was a push for reforms to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources, though significant change was slow to come.

The riot also had political ramifications, contributing to the growing momentum for the Democratic Party, which positioned itself as the champion of the working class against the perceived excesses of the Whig Party and the merchant elite.

Legacy

Today, the Flour Riot of 1837 is remembered as a pivotal moment in the history of social and economic justice in the United States. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of economic inequality and the importance of ensuring that all citizens have access to basic necessities.