Nnpox americana the great smallpox epidemic of 1775-82 pdf

Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. The author, a professor of history at george washington. Magazine article history today the great smallpox epidemic of 1775 82. Epidemic smallpox surfaced first in boston, that hotbed of revolutionary fervor. Nov 16, 2001 the following is an excerpt from the book pox americana. Pox americana the great smallpox epidemic of 177582 1st. She described the smallpox epidemic that infected america during the. For those who would like to learn about this in greater detail, i would highly recommend the book, pox americana. Hill and wang, a division of farrar, straus and giroux, 2001. Read pox americana pdf the great smallpox epidemic of 177582 by elizabeth a. What would happen to a population living like this. Soldiers receive immunizations at the army medical school circa 1920. Kluge center, library of congress, posted by the science reference service, library of congress.

In pox americana the great smallpox epidemic of 1775 82, elizabeth anne fenn takes a comprehensive look at the effect that this epidemic had on both native american, and american colonists, who had little immunity to the disease. Pox americana great smallpox epidemic of 1775 82 on. Sep 22, 2003 even if sometimes short on analysis, pox americana does break new ground with its truly continental perspective. A reappraisal, the william and mary quarterly, 3d ser. The great smallpox epidemic of 1775 82, is a book about how the variola major which is the virus that causes smallpox, spread throughout north america during the time of the revolutionary war. The great smallpox epidemic of 1775 82, i am inclined to think that general washingtons best decision during the revolutionary war was to, in current. Preface, introduction, epilogue, notes, maps, charts, pictures, index. The great smallpox epidemic of 177582 kindle edition by fenn, elizabeth a download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Jun 14, 2011 for those who would like to learn about this in greater detail, i would highly recommend the book, pox americana. In 1751, when george washington was 19 years old, he and his brother lawrence traveled to barbados, a trip intended to help lawrences persistent cough due to. John russell in exploring fenns innovative work, which. The great smallpox epidemic of 177582 by elizabeth a. The great smallpox epidemic of 1775 82, written by elizabeth a. Perhaps the most dreaded disease was smallpox, caused by a virus that kills one out of every three infected people.

Fenn examines a little known catastrophe that reshaped the history of a continent. Pox americana tells the story of the great smallpox epidemic of the 1770s and 1780s in north america. American troops had little exposure to smallpox and were not immune. For the native americans, the disease spread like wildfire. The great smallpox epidemic of 1775 82 from the worlds largest community of readers. The 178182 outbreak was part of a much larger smallpox epidemic that likely began five years earlier during the american revolution. Professor fenn talked about her latest book, pox americana. The new world of the western hemisphere was devastated by the 17751782 north american smallpox epidemic. Oct 02, 2002 pox americana tells the story of the great smallpox epidemic of the 1770s and 1780s in north america.

Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The author not only presents her conclusions, she goes into great detail as to how she arrived at said conclusions. Hill and wang, 2001, discusses widespread accusations and examples of biological warfare on the american continent. The great smallpox epidemic of 1775 82 by elizabeth a. Pox americana is great as a story but flawed as historical epidemiology. Rent pox americana the great smallpox epidemic of 1775 82 1st edition 9780809078219 and save up to 80% on textbook rentals and 90% on used textbooks. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Pox americana is about a massive smallpox epidemic that ravaged north america coasttocoast around the year 1780. Columbus first voyage to america can be attributed for bringing the smallpox virus to america and led to its spread across most of the continent of north america.

There was a smallpox epidemic in 173738 that reached the northern u. Professor don higginbotham, the university of north carolina at chapel hill. With impressive research and sparkling prose, elizabeth fenn addresses a greatly neglected subject. The appearance of pox americana, with its felicitous play on the word pax, is surely a most interesting literary coincidence, given the current heightened interest in a disease considered to have been eradicated for at least a generation.

New york, hill and wang a division of farrar, straus, and giroux 200. It shows how the disease shaped the early episodes of the revolutionary war, how it gave the british a biological and hence military advantage, and how it dashed the hopes of thousands of freedomseeking africanamerican slaves as the war came to. Because smallpox was common in england, most british soldiers had already been exposed and were immune, but the. A horrifying epidemic of smallpox was sweeping across north america when the war of independence began, and until now we have known almost nothing about it. Where and how smallpox began originated in europe evolved from animal diseases was transferred to farmers killed most of the farmers genetic immunities hereditary genes what this meant how did. The great smallpox epidemic of 177582 find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Pox americana the great smallpox epidemic of 1775 82. George washington and the first mass military inoculation science from the john w. George washington and the first mass military inoculation. The great smallpox epidemic of 177582, by elizabeth a. The great smallpox epidemic of 1775 82 elizabeth a. The epidemic affected the american revolution because colonial soldiers who had not been previously exposed to smallpox contracted it in huge numbers, particularly in the new england and southern colonies where inoculation had not been a widespread practice. The history of smallpox extends into prehistory, with the disease likely emerging in human populations about 10,000 bc. Fenn is a professor at the university of colorado boulder department of history.

The great smallpox epidemic of 177582, by elizabeth a fenn. For a discussion of smallpox inoculation and its introduction into europe and america, see elizabeth a. Request pdf on oct 20, 2001, elizabeth fenn and others published pox americana. Pox americana describes a terrible smallpox epidemic that swept north america from 1775 to 1782. The great smallpox epidemic of 1775 82 kindle edition by fenn, elizabeth a download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The great smallpox epidemic of 177582 kindle edition by fenn, elizabeth a download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc. And in estimating a baseline mortality figure of,658 dead from the epidemic of 1775 82, fenn has captured a clear sense of how catastrophic a disease like smallpox was in the days before edward jenner developed an effective vaccine. Hill and wang, 2001, 143, and genevieve miller, smallpox inoculation in england and america. The research presented is both exhaustive and exhausting.

Fenn explains that epidemic smallpox in scattered parts of north america occurred from 1775 to 1782, the years of the american war for independence. Time has left the early pages of his diary so damaged that the exact date remains uncertain. During the revolutionary war, one of the greatest threats to the army came not from enemy bullets, but from disease. The great smallpox epidemic of 1775 82 2002 elizabeth fenns pox americana. Elizabeth fenns pox americana reminds us that terrible diseases like smallpox not only devastate populations, but also shape the course of events. Fenn find, read and cite all the research you need. The book uses engaging narrative writing and both european and native american sources to tell the story of the. The great smallpox epidemic of 1775 82 1 by fenn, elizabeth a. The great smallpox epidemic of 1775 82, published by hill and wang. Fenn is the first historian to reveal how deeply variola affected the outcome of the war in every colony and the lives of everyone on the continent. The earliest credible evidence of smallpox is found in the egyptian mummies of people who died some 3000 years ago. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading pox americana. George washington, smallpox, and the american revolution. Pox americana excerpts, with renumbered footnotes elizabeth a.