War Information
10 sectionsWar History and Conflicts in Richmond
Richmond, the capital of Virginia, is one of the most important cities in American history for military and racial conflict. From the slave market to the Confederate capital and today's protests, Richmond is a city built on violence and inequality.
Richmond — America's Slave Capital
Richmond was the second largest slave market in America. Richmond's streets were places of human auction. Slave jails were scattered throughout the city. Between 1830 and 1860, over 350,000 enslaved people from Virginia were sold to Deep South states — most through Richmond. The city was built on extracting value from enslaved human bodies.
Confederate Capital (1861–1865)
After Virginia seceded in April 1861, Richmond became the Confederate capital. The city housed the Confederate government led by Jefferson Davis and the military command led by General Robert E. Lee. Richmond was the primary target of the Union Army throughout the war. Several major campaigns to capture Richmond failed — the Peninsula, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville.
Fall of Richmond and the Fire (April 1865)
On April 2, 1865, General Lee ordered Jefferson Davis to evacuate Richmond. Before leaving, the Confederate army set fire to tobacco and cotton warehouses to prevent Union capture. The fire quickly spread to the commercial center. Over 50 blocks of the city burned. Smoke was visible for miles. Union forces under General Godfrey Weitzel entered the burning city and helped extinguish the fire.
Massive Resistance and Institutional Racism
After Reconstruction, Richmond became the center of 'Massive Resistance' against school desegregation. In the 1950s, Virginia politicians led by Senator Harry F. Byrd — called 'Boom-Boom' Byrd — led the fight to maintain segregation. Prince Edward County schools were closed for five years.
2020 Protests — Toppling of Confederate Statues
After the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, Richmond became the scene of massive protests. Monument Avenue, lined with statues of Confederate leaders, became the center of protests. Protesters toppled the Jefferson Davis statue. The Robert E. Lee statue was covered with graffiti and projection art. By the end of 2020, all Confederate statues on Monument Avenue were removed.
