Trevor James
During the American Revolution, George Washington was faced with the challenge of not only defeating the British Army but also combatting an epidemic of smallpox. In 1777, Washington mandated smallpox vaccinations for all his soldiers, marking the first military inoculation program in history. This decision was made due to the vulnerability of his troops to the disease, as smallpox outbreaks had already swept through Continental Army camps, contributing to their defeats. Washington's bold move proved critical to the Continental Army's success, as infection rates dropped significantly. By the end of 1777, approximately 40,000 soldiers had been vaccinated, and the Continental Army saw a surge in new recruits as fear of smallpox receded.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1777 |
| Disease | Smallpox |
| Type of vaccination | Inoculation with smallpox pus or crushed scabs |
| Number of soldiers vaccinated | 40,000 |
| Reason | To prevent the spread of smallpox and protect his troops |
| Outcome | Successful; led to a surge in new recruits and contributed to victories of American forces |
| Controversy | Yes; it was a controversial practice at the time due to fears that it was contrary to God's will |
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What You'll Learn
George Washington's troops were susceptible to smallpox
George Washington's troops were highly susceptible to smallpox during the American Revolution. In 1775, the smallpox epidemic arrived in Boston, brought by occupying German, British, and Canadian troops. Washington set up an "isolation zone" to protect his troops, prohibiting anyone from Boston from entering the military camp. However, by the fall of 1776, the epidemic had spread to Philadelphia, and Washington knew he had to do more than just contain the outbreak.
The Continental Army, under Washington's command, suffered greatly from the disease. In 1776, 90% of deaths in the Continental Army were due to disease, with smallpox being a major contributor. Washington was aware of the vulnerability of his forces, as most of his troops had not been exposed to smallpox before and were not immune. He also knew that the British had used smallpox as a biological weapon against native tribes during the French and Indian War, giving them an advantage.
Washington's troops were particularly susceptible to smallpox due to a lack of prior exposure and the close quarters in which they lived and travelled. The conditions of the war, with people constantly moving and gathering in encampments, only to disperse and mix with new groups, created an ideal environment for the spread of the disease. The Continental Army's major military campaigns failed as smallpox outbreaks swept through its camps.
Recognizing the threat, Washington made the bold decision to inoculate his troops. He ordered the mass inoculation of his troops in 1776, making it the first time in history that an army was immunized by command order. Washington understood the potential consequences, but he also knew that the benefits of immunity outweighed the risks. By the end of 1777, approximately 40,000 soldiers had been inoculated, and the fear of smallpox receded, leading to a surge of new recruits.
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Washington ordered mass inoculation of his troops
In 1776, General George Washington ordered the mass inoculation of his troops against smallpox, marking the first time in history that an army was immunized by command order. Washington, who had survived smallpox as a young man, was aware of the disease's deadly potential and the vulnerability of his forces. He knew that the British had previously used smallpox as a biological weapon, and that outbreaks in his Continental Army could be disastrous.
Indeed, by 1776, smallpox had already taken a devastating toll on American troops, with Major General John Thomas losing about a third to half of his 10,000 troops to the disease during a march on Quebec that ultimately ended in defeat. Washington understood that the disease threatened the few Continental troops he had, and he was determined to prevent further outbreaks.
In a letter to Dr. William Shippen Jr., director of the medical department of the Continental Army, Washington justified his decision:
> "Necessity not only authorizes but seems to require the measure, for should the disorder infect the Army in the natural way, and rage with its usual virulence, we should have more to dread from it than from the sword of the enemy."
Washington's inoculation program was carried out in secrecy to avoid British attacks during this vulnerable period. By the end of 1777, approximately 40,000 soldiers had been vaccinated. The success of the program was evident, as fear of smallpox subsided and the Continental Army experienced a surge of new recruits.
Historians have praised Washington's swift response to the smallpox epidemic, with some arguing that it was the most important strategic decision of his military career. The mass inoculation of troops not only saved countless lives but also played a critical role in the Continental Army's subsequent victories and, ultimately, the success of the American Revolution.
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The inoculations were carried out in secrecy
In 1776, Washington ordered the mass inoculation of his troops. It was the first time in history that an army was immunized by command order. The inoculations were carried out using a primitive procedure: people protected themselves from the deadly smallpox virus by inhaling crushed smallpox scabs or having their skin scraped with someone else's smallpox pus. This method of inoculation had been known and practised since the early 1700s, learned from enslaved people from Africa and reports of its use in Asia. However, it was controversial, with some believing it was contrary to God's will.
The Continental Army's medical department director, Dr William Shippen Jr., supported the inoculations, and Washington later explained his decision in a letter to him, writing:
> "Necessity not only authorizes but seems to require the measure, for should the disorder infect the Army in the natural way, and rage with its usual virulence, we should have more to dread from it than from the sword of the enemy."
The campaign was a huge success, and by the end of 1777, around 40,000 soldiers had been vaccinated. The wisdom of Washington's decision became apparent, and the Continental Army saw a surge of new recruits as fear of smallpox receded.
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The mandate proved critical to the Continental Army's success
In 1776, 90% of deaths in the Continental Army were due to disease. George Washington was aware of the vulnerability of his troops to smallpox and the British advantage in this regard. The British troops had immunity to the disease due to childhood exposure or vaccination. In contrast, troops from the South and New England were almost entirely unprotected.
In 1775, Washington prohibited anyone from Boston from entering the military camp, creating an "isolation zone" to protect his troops. However, by the fall of 1776, the epidemic had spread to Philadelphia. Washington knew that inoculation would level the playing field, but he initially decided against it due to the risk of spreading the disease if any soldiers broke quarantine. Instead, he hoped that quarantining sick soldiers would be enough to halt the spread.
However, in 1776, as his army entered winter quarters, Washington ordered the mass inoculation of his troops. It was a controversial decision, and the inoculations were carried out in secrecy to avoid British attacks during this vulnerable period. By the end of 1777, around 40,000 soldiers had been vaccinated. The mandate proved critical to the Continental Army's success. As fear of smallpox receded, the Continental Army saw a surge of new recruits. The army's immunity to smallpox was especially crucial in the victory at Yorktown.
Historian Joseph Ellis noted:
> A compelling case can be made that his swift response to the smallpox epidemic and to a policy of inoculation was the most important strategic decision of his military career.
Elizabeth Fenn, in her book "Pox Americana," also highlighted the significance of Washington's decision:
> Washington's difficult decision to inoculate the troops must surely rank among his most important.
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The mandate was among the most controversial of Washington's career
In 1776, 90% of deaths in the Continental Army were due to disease. George Washington, who had survived smallpox as a young man, was aware of the history and his army's vulnerability to the disease. He also knew that the British had previously used smallpox as a biological weapon. Thus, he ordered the mass inoculation of his troops, making it the first time in history that an army was immunized by command order.
Washington's decision to inoculate the Continental Army against smallpox was among the most controversial of his career. The mandate was controversial not only because of the procedure itself—which involved deliberately introducing contaminated material into an incision in the skin—but also because of the risk of spreading the disease throughout the army if any soldiers broke quarantine before their disease ran its course. Washington was aware of this risk and initially decided that inoculation was too dangerous. Instead, he tried to contain the disease by prohibiting anyone from Boston from entering his military camp and only allowing soldiers who had suffered from smallpox to enter the city.
However, by 1777, rising cases in his Continental Army made Washington fear that smallpox would rage with its virulence and pose a greater threat than the enemy's sword. He ordered all new recruits to be inoculated, and by the end of the year, 40,000 soldiers had been vaccinated. The campaign was a huge success, and the Continental Army saw a surge of new recruits as fear of smallpox receded. Historians attribute the subsequent victories of American forces to Washington's mandate, with historian Joseph Ellis claiming that "his swift response to the smallpox epidemic and to a policy of inoculation was the most important strategic decision of his military career."
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in 1777, George Washington mandated that all his soldiers be vaccinated against smallpox.
George Washington's army was susceptible to smallpox, and the Continental Army's major military campaigns had failed as outbreaks swept through its camps. Washington himself wrote that "necessity not only authorizes but seems to require the measure".
George Washington ordered the mass inoculation of his troops. This involved deliberately introducing contaminated material into an incision in the skin. This was a primitive procedure that was kept secret from the British.
Yes, by the end of 1777, some 40,000 soldiers had been vaccinated. Historians say that the program was critical to the success of the American Revolution.
