1968 Chicago riots facts for kids

The 1968 Chicago riots were a series of major events in the United States. They started after the sad assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. People were very upset and poured into the streets of many big cities. Soon, protests and riots began, mostly in areas where many black people lived.

More than 100 large cities across the U.S. saw these disturbances. They caused about $50 million in damage. Chicago was a place where the riots were especially strong. Martin Luther King Jr. himself had once said that the crowds in Chicago were very hostile.

In Chicago, the damage was very serious. Out of 39 people who died nationwide during these events, 34 were black. Chicago, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. had some of the worst riots. In Chicago alone, over 48 hours of rioting led to 11 deaths. Also, 48 people were hurt by police gunfire. About 90 police officers were injured, and 2,150 people were arrested. Three miles of East Garfield Park and West Garfield Park on West Madison Street were left in ruins.

Later that same year, Chicago saw more political protests. These happened around the time of the 1968 Democratic National Convention. There were more clashes with the authorities then.

What Happened After the Riots?

After the riots, federal troops were called in to help bring back order. The President used a special law called the Insurrection Act of 1807 on April 7. This law allows the President to use the military to help in certain emergencies.

Were the Riots Planned?

Some people thought the riots were planned by groups like the Black Panther Party. On April 10, a newspaper called the Chicago Tribune said that "Black Power groups" had caused the violence. They claimed it was a "conspiracy to riot." However, no proof was ever found to support this idea.

During the summer of 1968, Mayor Richard J. Daley started the Chicago Riot Study Committee. This group included judges, business leaders, lawyers, and politicians. They interviewed hundreds of black residents and white business owners. They also spoke with police officers, firefighters, and local activists. But they found no evidence of a plan.

The final report said that the riot was a "spontaneous overflow of pent-up aggressions." This means it was a sudden outburst of strong feelings. The committee also found that most of the first rioters were high school students. They started taking out their anger on white-owned businesses. Once the riots began, many adults joined in. No one found any proof that anyone purposely set fire to a black-owned business or home.

How Much Damage Was Done?

The riots caused over 125 fires. About 210 buildings were damaged. The total cost of the damage was around $10 million. Power lines and telephone lines across the city were also knocked out.

In the first two days, police reported several civilian deaths. But they could not always tell if these deaths were from the riots or other crimes. There was no official count of deaths from the riots. However, reports say between 9 and 11 people died because of them. Over 2,000 people were arrested. About a thousand people lost their homes. Most of the destruction happened on the west side of Chicago. But there was also some damage on the south side, the near north side, and even as far north as Old Town.

After the riots, Chicago faced a food shortage. Volunteers had to bring food to the affected areas to help. The riots also sped up a process called deindustrialization in the area. This means that factories and businesses started to leave. Many empty lots were left behind after bulldozers cleaned up the damaged areas. Some of these empty lots are still there today.