June 28, 1861---Rioting in Milwaukee

JUNE 28, 1861:    

On June 24, 1861, the government of Wisconsin suspends several banks’ charters for irregularities and war profiteering, leading to four days of riots in Milwaukee. A number of banks are burned to the ground. The riot is put down on this day 150 years ago by units of the Milwaukee Zouaves. The Milwaukee Sentinel blames the riots on German immigrants, “who do not have a clear idea of any of the recent banking movements.”