TEXT: Our nation is built upon a history of battles, fought over honor, family and power. These bloody and iconic chapters, define what it truly means to be an American. These are Blood Feuds. In the 1840s, New York's mean streets are ruled by rival gangs... Gentlemen, stand your ground now. Narrator: One of them, Irish, the other, native-born... I should have killed you when I had the chance. This feud was fought with blood, sticks, guile, nerve. Consider this an open challenge. Narrator: Led by two men... John Morrissey and William Poole, who are sworn enemies. I'll teach you a lesson not to mess with true Americans like us. Their bitter hatred would spark savage fury and become the stuff of legend. One man will emerge victorious and rise up in American politics, while his opponent will end in ruin. This was a street fight for America and who is gonna get to be an American. It was gouge your eyes out and leave your enemy dead in the street. Narrator: This is the harrowing, real story of the fabled feud from gangs of New York. This was an epic feud. Aah! It was gonna end bad. I'm William Poole, better known as Bill the Butcher. I'm a true American. And I made it my mission to let all the Irish scum know just how unwelcome they are in my country. The worst of the lot is John Morrissey. My name is John Morrissey. I'm Irish and proud of it. I'll do what I have to do and fight who I'll have to fight. And not bill Poole, nor any man, will stand in my way. I'll teach you a lesson. It'll be you who takes a poundin', Butcher. Come on! [Groans] Narrator: For William Poole and John Morrissey, their blood feud has its beginnings in the late 1840s. New York City is a thriving metropolis, the biggest city in the country, swelling with waves of new immigrants from Europe. The
SUMMARY:
William Poole, the leader of New York gang the Bowery Boys, clashes with bare-knuckle boxer John Morrissey.