Book about yellow fever outbreak 1793 in philadelphia

Fever 1793 fever 1793 was written by laurie halse anderson, and first published in 2000. Terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 newbery honor book. Philadelphians initially blamed the 1793 outbreak, which started with two deaths in august, on shiploads of refugees from the french colony of saintdomingue on hispaniola, who were escaping that. It was the summer of 1793 and a ghastly epidemic of yellow fever gripped the largest. All government functions were halted as thousands fled the stricken city. Philadelphias yellow fever epidemic of 1793 was the largest in the history of the united states, claiming the lives of nearly 4000 people. In 1793, a yellow fever outbreak wiped out 10 percent of the population of philadelphia then the capital of the united states, causing 17,000 people, including president washington and. During the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 in philadelphia, 5,000 or more people were listed in the official register of deaths between august 1 and november 9. Reports on the yellow fever epidemic, 1793 gilder lehrman institute.

The city had even known sporadic yellow fever outbreaks at various points throughout the eighteenth century. The death toll from a yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia hits 100 on october 11, 1793. In 1793, philadelphia, pennsylvania, then the nations capital, experienced the first major outbreak of yellow fever in the united states. With a population of approximately 55,000 in 1793, philadelphia was americas largest city, its capital and its busiest port. How yellow fever turned new orleans into the city of the.

Exhibit documents yellow fever epidemic of 1793 university of. William cobbett was the primary political enemy of rush going so far as to calling him a quack, a murderer, and mentally unstable according to jim murphy, author of american plague. It is a historical novel about a 14 year old girl, matilda, trying to survive an outbreak of yellow fever. Yellow fever led half of philadelphians to flee the city. Over 5,000 residents of philadelphia died in 1793 from the great epidemic of 1793. Mattie is, for the most part, just a normal teenager. This asset contains classroom discussion questions. Between august 1 and november 9, 1793, approximately 11,000 people contracted yellow fever in the us capital of philadelphia. Yellow fever attacks philadelphia, 1793 eyewitness to history.

Diagnosing and treating yellow fever in philadelphia, 1793. He later wrote several books on his experience with yellow fever. Nearly 100 years later, in the late summer of 1793, refugees from a yellow fever epidemic in the caribbean fled to philadelphia. During the summer of 1793, mattie cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. During the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia, 5,000 or more people were listed in the official register of deaths between august 1 and november 9. For free educational materials, visit our website at. The great plague of yellow fever in philadelphia in 1793. Yellow fever, or american plague as it was known at the time, is a viral disease that begins with fever and muscle pain. It paints a picture of a time where cleanliness wasnt exactly up to par and nor was the medical care. Join us for an audio journey back in time, visiting five sites around philadelphia s historic old city to learn about the 1793 yellow fever outbreak and what happened next.

Philly was the capitol of the brandnew united states then, and yellow. This is the classic history of philadelphias yellow fever epidemic of 1793. Code switch some years the virus would wipe out a tenth of the population. Even president washington and the rest of the federal government fled while the epidemic raged. This book tells the story of the time of yellow fever in philadelphia in 1793. An epidemic of fever sweeps through the streets of 1793 philadelphia in this. Fever, 1793 is a novel by laurie halse anderson about a teenager who contracts the yellow fever during the epidemic in philadelphia in 1793. This book is a fictional examination of the yellow fever outbreak during the summer and fall of 1793 in philadelphia, pa. Yellow fever killed 10 percent in philadelphia the washington post. In late summer, as the number of deaths began to climb. At the time philadelphia was thought to have the leading field in medicine, however the doctors were not prepared for that kind of crisis.