Friday Flag - Free City of Tri-Insula

The Free City of Tri-Insula was the name taken by New York City when it seceded from New York State during the the outbreak of the Civil War. Mayor Fernando Wood did not want to stay with the state after it seceded with many other northern states after Douglas won the Presidential Election of 1860. Wood wanted to continue trading with both sides and the outside world. He did not want the people of his city to be drafted into the armies of the Federation of Free America in its rebellion against the USA.

The Free City of Tri-Insula lasted from September 8, 1861 to November 17, 1861, just over two months. In November armies from New York and various New England states took back the city, bringing it back into the FFA.

Free City of Tri-Insula

FREE CITY OF TRI-INSULA
Name:	Free City of Tri-Insula
Independence:	September 8, 1861 (from FFA)
Re-Conquest by FFA:	November 17, 1861
Physical Characteristics
Land Area:	303 square miles (786 km)
Water Area:	164 square miles (425 km)
Former NY Counties:	Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island
People
Population:	813,669
Major Ethnic Groups:	American, Irish, German, many others
Languages:	Officially English, dozens of others spoken
Government
Government Type:	Mayor-Council
Executive:	Mayor Fernando Wood
Legislature:	Tri-Insula Council
Economics
GDP:	$358 million
Currency:	Tri-Unsula Dollar
Major Industries:	Trade, ship building, textiles

After the 1860 US Presidential Election a number of northern states seceded from the United States of America and formed the Federation of Free America. When fighting broke out between the US and the rebels FFA President, Abraham Lincoln, began calling for the states to initiate a draft to raise troops. In August 1861 New York approved a draft that allowed for exemptions by those willing to pay $300 to the State.

The draft, and the general unpopularity of leaving the Union, caused Mayor Fernando Wood to call the city council together along with representatives form local governments of the five county area. He pushed a proposal to form an independent city-state that could easily survive on trade between the warring states alone. After long days of negotiations an agreement was reached. On September 8, 1861 the City State of Tri-Insula was born.

Lincoln was not amused. He felt that the states has the sovereign right to leave the Union, but a city had no legal standing to secede from a state. The need of New York Harbor and the manpower of the city led to an ultimatum being issued to Wood. Armies from New York State and New England were diverted to surround the rebellious city. After about two months of a siege the troops finally moved in. The Tri-Insulan milita was quickly scattered with the deaths of 57 FFA soldiers and 188 rebel militia, over 2,000 in total were wounded from all sides.

When the city was brought back into New York Lincoln was generous with pardons for most of those behind the uprising. Fernando Wood and his closest advisers were imprisoned until the end of the FFA war for independence.

NOTES
1) Secession in New York
2) Data from US Census Bureau