1863 Salisbury Bread Riot

On March 18, 1863, a group of local women, identified only as wives and mothers of Confederate soldiers, participated in what would become known as the Salisbury Bread Riot. The women believed that local merchants had been raising prices on necessary foods above government-set prices, and they demanded fair pricing so they could feed their families. When the merchants refused, the women threatened violence and took basic goods such as flour, molasses and salt.

Local newspaper The Carolina Watchman called the event “A Female Raid” and blamed the ineffectiveness of the government to provide for Civil War soldiers’ families at home. Bread riots like the one in Salisbury ultimately led to better rationing of government resources during the war.

Our nonprofit organization is named for these courageous women. When no one else was promoting local food, a group of Salisbury residents took it upon themselves to do something about it, and they founded The Bread Riot.

View an exhibit about the Salisbury Bread Riot at the Rowan Museum, 202 North Main Street in downtown Salisbury. See photos below.