Gangs of New York: A Walk Through Time (or at Least, a Guess)
So, you're wondering when exactly this epic tale of violence, immigrants, and really bad haircuts took place? Well, buckle up, buttercup, because we're about to dive into the murky waters of 19th century New York.
A Time of Turmoil
Let's get one thing straight: "Gangs of New York" is not a documentary. It's a movie. And while it's based on a real book about the gritty underworld of the city, it takes a fair amount of artistic license. But let's ignore that for now and pretend it's all historically accurate.
The movie is set in the mid-1800s, a time when New York City was a melting pot of cultures, crime, and cholera. It was a period of rapid industrialization and urbanization, which meant that a lot of people were moving to the city in search of the American Dream. Unfortunately, the American Dream often involved getting your head kicked in by a rival gang.
The Five Points: Where the Wild Things Were
The movie focuses on a neighborhood called Five Points, which was basically the Wild West of New York City. It was a place where gangs ruled the streets and people were more likely to get stabbed than they were to get a decent night's sleep. So, if you're planning a visit, I'd recommend packing a flak jacket and a really good alibi.
So, What Year Exactly?
Now, the movie jumps around a bit in terms of time, but it mainly focuses on the 1860s. This was a particularly tumultuous period in American history, with the Civil War looming large. The film actually touches on the draft riots of 1863, which were a pretty big deal. So, if you're trying to pinpoint an exact date, let's just say it's somewhere in the neighborhood of 1860-1863.
Remember: This is all just a rough estimate. There's a good chance that the actual events depicted in the movie happened at slightly different times, or maybe not at all. But hey, that's the beauty of historical fiction, right? It lets you take a wild guess and then pretend you're an expert.
How To...
- How to dress like you're in Gangs of New York? Invest in a waistcoat, a top hat, and a really mean scowl.
- How to survive in Five Points? Join a gang, preferably the one with the least number of enemies.
- How to avoid getting stabbed? Stay indoors, and if you must go out, wear chain mail.
- How to impress your friends with your Gangs of New York knowledge? Quote random lines from the movie and pretend you're a historian.
- How to make a time machine? That's a question for a different blog post.