Gangs of New York: The History That Inspired the Movie

Written by Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian, and Kenneth Lonergan and directed by legendary director Martin Scorsese, 2002's Gangs of New York is a massive achievement in terms of period films based on actual historical events and people. Loosely based on Herbert Asbury's 1928 nonfiction book of the same title, the film honestly portrays the history of the gangs of New York with the Irish American immigration experience in the city and America. Scorsese went to great lengths to authentically recreate old New York City, building a massive set in Italy that replicated how the city used to look.

With the backdrop of the Civil War and the tensions and dissension among New York City's citizens concerning the war, poor gangs from the Five Points would thrive and bustle as they fought for turf, respect, and power. Scorsese brilliantly used real-life events as well as historical characters to give authenticity to this film about a time in New York history that's not really known by the general public.

The attitudes towards Irish immigrants, blacks, the Civil War, and those within and outside of politics were dead on and realistic according to the history of the time. This film portrays a brutal look at the history of America, and one of its most treasured cities. Gangs of New York is also a scary reminder of some of the attitudes some still carry in the present.

History always shows we are not that far from the past. In a sense, it's our warning. Speaking of warnings, I will be using quotes from the movie, and some of them contain very rough language. These Gangs of New York quotes will contain racial slurs used to illustrate the attitudes of Americans towards the Irish immigrants of that time.

Was "Gangs of New York" a True Story?

While Scorsese took some artistic liberties, much of the history depicted in the film is based on historical characters and attitudes of the time. However, much of the violence in the movie and particularly in Ashbury's book was exaggerated. Historian Tyler Anbinder worked with Scorsese while he was making the film and dispelled many of the inaccuracies in the book. While there was certainly lawlessness and violence in the city of New York, the Five Points area was no more violent than any other part of the city. While many of the characters in Gangs of New York are based off real people, others were combined from multiple sources or made up altogether.

Before we get more into the real historical figures who played a role in shaping the characters of the movie and the actual gangs used in the movie, it's extremely important to discuss the mother whom gave birth and nurtured the legendary gangs of New York: the Five Points!

The Five Points Neighborhood in "Gangs of New York"

The film's historical background is greatly entrenched within the history and climate of the Five Points neighborhood of the time. It was given the name of the Five Points because of the intersection of Mulberry Street, Orange Street (now Baxter), Cross Street (now Mosco), Worth Street, and Little Water Street to create the plot of land known as Paradise Square.

One of the great Gangs of New York quotes from Bill the Butcher is when he explains the intersection of the Five Points to William Tweed, "Mulberry Street... and Worth... Cross and Orange... and Little Water. Each of the Five Points is a finger. When I close my hand, it becomes a fist. And, if I wish, I can turn it against you."

The Five Points area was built on what was known as the Collect Pond. The pond was a main source of fresh drinking water for the city. As a result, many businesses were erected along the shores of the pond and contaminated it in a short period.

The pollution became a problem and a hazard. It was proposed to be cleaned and used as a centerpiece or a recreational park, but that proposal was rejected. Instead, it was decided to fill in the pond, and the land fill was done poorly.

Buried vegetation began to release methane gas, which is a natural by-product of decomposition. The area also lacked adequate storm sewers. Because of the poorly filled in land, houses and buildings shifted on their foundations. The place was infested with mosquitos due to the poor drainage.

In essence, it stunk, and the place was filled with disease. Nobody wanted to live there except the poorest of the poor. When the Irish began immigrating to the city in large droves largely due to the Great Irish famine of 1845–1852, Irish immigrants began piling into the Five Points and making the neighborhood their new home.

Was William Cutting a Real or Fictional Character?

While some of the characters in the film were fictional and not based on real historical figures, the character of Bill Cutting was.

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Played brilliantly by Daniel Day-Lewis, the character of Bill Cutting was directly based on the real historical figure William Poole. The last name may have been changed, but William Poole's real nickname "Bill the Butcher" was used in the movie.

The main difference is that in Gangs of New York, Cutting survives to see the civil war and participates in the draft riots of 1863, whereas Poole was shot to death in 1855.

In classic fashion Daniel Day-Lewis spent an extreme amount of time getting into his role, spending time working with multiple professional butchers so that he could more authentically portray Bill the Butcher. DDL's method acting style means he spends an extreme amount of time preparing for his role, literally living the life of the character as best as possible. Additionally, DDL resurrected an old New York accent for his role that would have fit in with the period. He managed to capture the seething rage and distrust of the Irish that was prominent during the period.

William Poole: The Real "Bill the Butcher"

William Poole was a Nativist enforcer of the Native American Party, also known as the Know-Nothing Party, which was a faction of the American Republican Party. The Know Nothing was a movement created by Nativists who believed that the overwhelming immigration of German and Irish Catholic immigrants was a threat to republican values and controlled by the Pope in Rome.

They were dubbed the Know-Nothings by outsiders of their semi-secret organization. This had nothing to do with them knowing anything. It had to do with their reply when asked about the organization's activities, often stating, "I know nothing."

The real Bill the Butcher was a leader of the Bowery Boys and known for his skills as a bare-knuckle boxer. Poole's trade was that of a butcher, and he was infuriated when many butchering licenses were being handed out to Irish immigrants.

William Poole was born in Sussex County, New Jersey to parents of English Protestant descent. His family moved to New York City in 1832 to open a butcher shop in Washington Market, Manhattan.

Unlike the movie which Bill Cutting mentions his father died fighting against the British, the real William Poole's father did not die fighting the British. In fact, Bill Poole trained in his father's trade and eventually took over the family store. In the 1840s, he worked with the Howard (Red Rover) Volunteer Fire Engine Company #34, on Hudson and Christopher Street.

Also unlike in the movie, William Poole was shot in real life. However, he was shot at Stanwix Hall, a bar on Broadway near Prince. William Poole did not die in a glorious street battle against his Irish enemies. Instead, he died from the gun wound at his home on Christopher Street. His last words were: "Goodbye, boys. I die a true American."

What was true in the movie was the conflict the real Bill the Butcher had with the Irish immigrant gang the Dead Rabbits. The Dead Rabbits were William Poole's most hated enemies, particularly the leader of the Dead Rabbits, John Morrissey.

John Morrissey's Influence on the Amsterdam Vallon Character

Although the character of Amsterdam Vallon, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, was greatly a work of fiction, it can also be argued that the character of Amsterdam in Gangs of New York was very loosely based on the historical figure of John Morrissey.

John was born in Templemore, County Tipperary, Ireland in 1831. Two years later, his parents immigrated to the United States and settled in Troy, New York. Like William Poole, he was well known as a highly skilled boxer, gambler, and gang leader of the Dead Rabbits.

Unlike the movie, Morrissey's father was not killed by Bill the Butcher and revenge was not his true motive in going head to head with the Butcher. In reality, he became Poole's adversary when he was hired to prevent Poole from seizing ballot boxes and rigging an election. Morrissey and the Dead Rabbit gang were rewarded by Tammany Hall as they were allowed to open a gambling house without police interference.

Poole and Morrissey would go toe-to-toe, but not in an epic gang battle. The two fought in a boxing match, in which Morrissey lost. A few weeks later, Lew Baker, a friend of Morrissey, shot and fatally wounded Bill the Butcher at a saloon on Broadway in 1855.

Morrissey was a champion boxer, but when he retired, he ran for Congress and was backed by Tammany Hall. He ended up serving two terms (1867-1871) in the House for the 40th and 41st Congress, representing the 5th Congressional District. As a Congressman, Morrissey always looked out for the interests of the Irish.

Much like William Poole was an enforcer of the Native American Party, John Morrissey and his Dead Rabbits were often used as enforcers for the Democratic Party and the muscle for the leader of Tammany Hall: William "Boss" Tweed.