Let Them Eat Bread

Because of the high cost and limited amount of food in Richmond, Virginia, April 2nd 1863 saw the Southern Bread Riots.

The Southern Bread Riots were caused by the foraging of the Union and Confederate armies, high inflation, and a drought in 1862, all of which made food hard to come by and expensive in southern cities. In the first three years of the war the cost of wheat had tripled, and milk and butter had gone up four times its original amount.

Women in the Confederacy began to protest the high cost of bread April 2nd 1863. The women believed speculators and an uncaring government were to blame for the shortages and high costs. As the protests grew they became violent. Rioters attacked stores, broke into warehouses, and tore apart dry goods stores. In Richmond, Virginia several women met in a church and marched on Capitol Square, where they demanded relief from Governor John Letcher. When no help was offered, thousands of mostly women broke into stores stealing clothes, food, and other items. The women shouted “Bread! Bread! Bread!” Jefferson Davis addressed the rioters from the back of wagon, asking them to break up and go home, he even took money out his own pocket and threw it at the mob. The women didn't break up until militia was call in, and the threat was made to fire on them.