Dead Rabbits Riot

The Dead Rabbits Riot of 1857 was one of the largest street fights of the 19th century. Originally this was a common brawl between the Dead Rabbits and Bowery Boys. With the states police force in shambles due to the Municipal and Metropolitan police conflict, this fighting would result in widespread looting and damage courtesy of the criminals of the Five Points. It is said that 800-1,000 gang members were involved in the riots. This was the biggest display of gang violence displayed in America at the time. This was fueled by the democratic and Tammany Hall loving Irish Catholics against the nativist Know Nothing Party. These two gangs were the Bloods and Crips of their time, their hate for each other was grand and they were incredibly ruthless towards each other. After this incredible battle only 8 men died with 100-200 seriously wounded. In this time that was a lot, few of either gang had guns and most of the fighting was with bricks, bats, steel poles, and stones which would leave each gangbanger with a great deal of scars to remember what their foe has done. These two gangs stopped their fighting only when the gangs had withered away during the post Civil War era.

http://urbanography.com/1857/gangs3.html