Trevor James
During the American War of Independence, George Washington ordered his troops to be vaccinated against smallpox, making a bold decision to require his troops to be immunized during the 1775-1782 smallpox epidemic that killed more than 100,000 people. Washington, who had several smallpox scars on his face from a previous infection, knew the danger of the disease, calling it the most dangerous enemy. While the measure was controversial and not popular among the soldiers, it was among the first large-scale, state-sponsored immunization campaigns in American history.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1776 |
| Position | Commander in Chief of the Continental Army |
| Context | American War of Independence |
| Disease | Smallpox |
| Type of Immunization | Inoculation |
| Mortality Rate of Inoculation | 0.5% - 2% |
| Mortality Rate of Smallpox | 7% - 30% |
| Outcome | Successful |
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What You'll Learn
George Washington's troops were vaccinated against smallpox in 1776
George Washington ordered his troops to be vaccinated against smallpox in 1776. At the time, he was the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American War of Independence. Smallpox was a significant threat, with a mortality rate of up to 30%. Washington himself had survived smallpox as a young man and bore the scars on his face.
By 1776, there had been three major smallpox outbreaks: in Boston, Quebec, and Virginia Tidewater. Smallpox had also devastated the American forces sent to capture Canada, and local outbreaks hampered recruitment efforts. Washington understood the danger posed by smallpox, referring to it as "the most dangerous Enemy" in a letter to John Hancock.
Initially, Washington attempted to contain smallpox through quarantines, but the disease continued to spread. Soldiers even inoculated themselves in secret. Finally, on January 6, 1777, Washington ordered the inoculation of the troops, but he reversed the order three weeks later due to the complexity of the procedure and the need to keep it secret from the British.
Inoculation was a risky procedure with a mortality rate of 0.5 to 2%. It involved cutting a patient's arm and inserting a smallpox scab, and those who appeared healthy could still be contagious. Despite the risks, Washington judged that the benefits outweighed them. He wrote to a doctor, expressing his fear that "we should have more to dread from [smallpox], than from the Sword of the Enemy."
The decision to inoculate the troops was among the most controversial of Washington's career. It was not popular among the soldiers, and there was widespread fear and suspicion of inoculation. However, Washington's decision helped protect his troops from smallpox and contributed to the Continental Army's victory in the Revolutionary War.
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The inoculation was kept secret from the British
During the American War of Independence, George Washington ordered his troops to be vaccinated against smallpox. This was in 1776, when Washington was commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. Washington himself had survived smallpox as a young man, but he knew the danger the disease posed to his troops. Smallpox had a mortality rate of between seven and thirty per cent, and the conditions of war—with people moving about and gathering in encampments—were perfect for its spread.
Washington's decision to inoculate his troops was among the most controversial of his career. Inoculation was considerably riskier than modern vaccination methods, with a mortality rate of around 0.5 to 2 per cent. It was also unpopular among the soldiers, and several outbreaks of smallpox appeared to have started when individuals who appeared healthy were still contagious. There was also widespread fear of potential contamination, and critics argued that inoculation was "playing God".
Washington initially tried to contain smallpox through quarantines, but these proved too difficult to enforce. He also banned inoculation for fear that it could sicken his entire army. However, the disease continued to spread, and soldiers began to inoculate themselves in secret. Finally, on January 6, 1777, Washington gave the order to begin inoculating the troops. He instructed the doctors to keep his order as secret as possible, as he was worried that if the British found out, they might attack while the army was in a weakened state.
The inoculation campaign was, in the words of historian Elizabeth Fenn, "the first large-scale, state-sponsored immunization campaign in American history". It is impossible to prove whether mandatory immunisation helped America win the Revolutionary War. However, we know that Washington's army won by a narrow margin, and that smallpox killed more than 100,000 people between 1775 and 1782.
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Smallpox was a greater threat than the British Army
In 1776, General George Washington and the Continental Army faced a threat greater than the British Army: a continent-wide smallpox epidemic. From 1775 to 1782, a major outbreak of smallpox ravaged North America, causing at least 100,000 deaths. Smallpox had killed millions over the centuries, and Washington knew the danger well, having contracted and survived the disease as a young man. He bore several smallpox scars on his face, a constant reminder of the deadly nature of the virus.
The conditions of the war created ideal conditions for the virus to spread. Soldiers, refugees, merchants, and camp followers were constantly on the move, carrying the disease with them. Smallpox outbreaks were already devastating the Continental Army, with one outbreak in Quebec decimating American troops and contributing to their defeat. Washington knew that the American troops were particularly vulnerable to smallpox. Unlike the British troops, who had mostly been infected as children and acquired lifetime immunity, the American troops had little exposure to the virus, leaving them unprotected.
Fearing that smallpox could cripple his army, Washington made the bold decision to require his troops to be immunized. He understood the risks involved in mass inoculation, but judged that the risks of smallpox were even greater. In a letter to a doctor, he wrote, "we should have more to dread from [smallpox], than from the Sword of the Enemy." Washington's decision faced controversy and resistance, but he persevered, implementing quarantine measures and coordinating with subordinates across the United States.
The mandatory immunization campaign led by Washington was a significant moment in American history. It demonstrated the recognition of the deadly threat posed by smallpox and the need to protect the health and readiness of the military. While it is impossible to prove that mandatory immunization helped America win the Revolutionary War, it undoubtedly played a crucial role in mitigating the impact of smallpox on the Continental Army. Washington's leadership in facing this threat showcases his strategic thinking and commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of his troops.
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George Washington's decision was controversial
George Washington's decision to inoculate his troops against smallpox was among the most controversial of his career. The procedure was risky, with a 0.5 to 2% mortality rate, and there was widespread fear of potential contamination. Critics argued it was "playing God", and it was banned in several colonies. The idea of inoculation had come from an enslaved African, and some alleged it was a trick to get white people to kill themselves.
Washington was hesitant to inoculate his troops, knowing that initiating a large-scale inoculation campaign risked spreading the disease throughout the army if any soldiers broke quarantine before their disease ran its course. He also feared that if the British found out, they might attack while the Continental Army was in a weakened state.
However, Washington knew the danger smallpox posed. He had borne the scars of smallpox himself and knew that many of his soldiers would not be as lucky as he had been. Smallpox was endemic in England, so most British troops had been infected as children and had acquired lifetime immunity. In contrast, American troops were spread about a sparsely populated country, and few had been exposed to the virus. Washington recognised that inoculation would level the playing field with the British troops.
By 1776, a continent-wide smallpox epidemic was ravaging North America, causing at least 100,000 deaths. Smallpox outbreaks had already devastated American forces in Boston and Quebec, and Washington knew that the risks of inoculation were worth it. As he wrote to one doctor, the troops had more to dread from [smallpox], than from the Sword of the Enemy".
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Inoculation was risky and unpopular
George Washington's decision to inoculate the Continental Army against smallpox was among the most controversial of his career. The procedure was risky, with a 0.5 to 2% mortality rate, and it was unpopular among soldiers, some of whom came from places unfamiliar with or suspicious of inoculation. There was also widespread fear of potential contamination, and critics argued that inoculation was "playing God".
Inoculation was considerably riskier than the smallpox vaccine developed in the 1790s by Edward Jenner and modern vaccines. The procedure involved cutting a patient's arm and inserting a smallpox scab into the cut. While the death rate was much lower than that of a "natural" infection, it was still dangerous, and patients occasionally died. Additionally, during the inoculation process, an individual who appeared healthy might still be contagious, which could result in widespread suspicion of the procedure.
In the summer of 1776, American forces in Boston were being inoculated against smallpox, and by the winter of 1777, Washington expanded this to the Continental Army. He judged that the risks were worth it, writing to one doctor that they had "more to dread from [smallpox], than from the Sword of the Enemy." Smallpox had a mortality rate of between seven and thirty per cent, high enough to cripple the American army. Washington also knew the danger of smallpox well, as he bore several smallpox scars on his face from having contracted and survived the disease as a young man.
Washington's decision to inoculate his troops was influenced by the fact that smallpox was endemic in England, so most British troops had been infected as children and had acquired lifetime immunity. In contrast, American troops were spread out across a sparsely populated country, and few had been exposed to the virus. Washington hoped that inoculation would level the playing field with the largely smallpox-resistant British troops. However, he also recognized the risks of initiating a large-scale inoculation campaign, as it could spread the disease throughout the army if any soldiers broke quarantine before their disease ran its course. Washington's concerns about the risks of inoculation were evident in his letters, where he instructed doctors to keep the inoculations secret and admitted that he was at a loss" about what to do regarding smallpox.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in 1776, during the American War of Independence, George Washington ordered his troops to be vaccinated against smallpox.
George Washington knew the threat smallpox posed to the new nation, calling it "the most dangerous Enemy". He bore several smallpox scars on his face from having contracted and survived the disease as a young man. He knew that many of his soldiers would not be as lucky should the Continental Army experience a serious outbreak.
No, the measure was not popular among the soldiers. Continental Army soldiers came from all over the country, including places unfamiliar with or suspicious of inoculation.
