Richmond Bread Riot (1863)
Thu Apr 02, 1863
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On this day in 1863, the Richmond Bread Riot, the largest of several bread riots that took place in the Confederacy, began when thousands of hungry people began attacking government warehouses and stores, chanting "Bread or Blood!"
During the Civil War, Richmond, Virginia had been suffering an economic crisis in which overcrowding, skyrocketing rent prices, and unaffordable food led to widespread suffering among the poor. Thousands of people, mostly poor women, protested and demanded a meeting with the governor of Virginia.
When this meeting was denied, the crowd took the streets, chanting "We celebrate our right to live! We are starving!" and "Bread or blood!" They then began attacking government warehouses, grocery stores, and various mercantile establishments, seizing food, clothing, and wagons, as well as jewelry and other luxury goods.
Over sixty rioters were arrested, and the Confederate government censored reporting of the event in the press, fearing that it would hurt the morale of the war effort.
- Date: 1863-04-02
- Learn More: www.encyclopediavirginia.org, en.wikipedia.org.
- Tags: #Riots.
- Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org