Final answer:
The plan devised by the rioters in the Richmond Bread Riot involved seeking an audience with Governor John Letcher to demand bread but escalated to looting when they were refused. Their initial intentions seemed to be the result of dire need, but criminal elements took advantage of the situation. Their actions became violent and disorderly, characterized by varying motives among the participants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The plan devised by the rioters in the Richmond Bread Riot was initially to speak with Governor John Letcher to address their dire need for bread due to extreme shortages. When the Governor refused to meet them, they marched to the business district, their numbers growing as they attracted more followers. Their intention was to find a solution to their desperation for food, but the situation escalated as the crowd began looting, driven partially by righteous indignation at their suffering and partially by criminal elements within the group.
Mary Jackson, a notable figure in the riot, has been described as inciting the crowd, demanding "bread or blood." This illustrates a mix of intentions within the riot, ranging from the desperation of starving citizens to the opportunism of thieves and agitators. While some sources depicted the rioters as victims of severe poverty, others, like the Richmond Examiner, painted them as largely criminally motivated.
The actions of the police and the ensuing violence during the march were viewed differently depending on the sources, with some claiming the rioters were predominantly seeking crime while others highlighted the legitimacy of their grievance over scarcity of supplies. The initial motive of the rioters of the Richmond Bread Riot may have been to address their valid complaints, but it ultimately devolved into disorder and violence, with both legitimate protesters and criminal elements contributing to the chaos.
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