The winter of 1740–1741 was a miserable period for the poor in the city. An economic depression contributed to declining food and fuel supply, aggravated by record low temperatures and snowfall. Many people were in danger of starving and freezing to death. These conditions caused many denizens, especially the poor whites and slaves, to grow resentful of the government.Hoey, Edwin. (June 1974). "Terror in New York – 1741" , American Heritage Magazine, June 1974; accessed April 9, 2009. The tension between whites and blacks was great. "A mere hint of restiveness among black New Yorkers could throw whites into a near panic".
