Disease+Blankets

Europeans brought many new diseases to Americans. Smallpox was one of the most devastating, but many Native Americans also died from typhus, measles, influenza, bubonic plague, cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, mumps, yellow fever, and pertussis, all of which can be spread through infected articles of clothing and blankets. Because the Native Americans were introduced to all these diseases within a relatively short period of time, the odd of surviving one disease only to catch another were very high.


 * NATURAL PROCESS OR DELIBERATE ACT?**

The spread of disease from the Europeans to the Native Americans was not entirely accidental. Europeans were already exposed to diseases from their home countries and had built up an immunity towards them. Because the Native Americans had never been exposed to European diseases before, when they came into contact with the disease, it spread quickly through the tribe and across the country. Once the Europeans realized the Native Americans were very susceptible to disease, they began to give the blanket and handkerchiefs of ill Europeans to them in hopes of killing them. This may have been one of the most effective way for the Europeans to beat the Native Americans. When all other techniques and ideas were exhausted, the use of disease was a very effective biological weapon.

There have been some doubt as to whether the infected blankets were given to the Native Americans on purpose or not. The following excerpts from European troops letters make the intent very clear.


 * EVIDENCE:**

Jeffrey Amherst was the commanding general of British forces in North America during the final battles of the French & Indian war (1754-1763). He acquired Canada for England and helped make England the world's chief colonizer. Despite his fame, Jeffrey Amherst's name became tarnished by stories of smallpox-infected blankets used as germ warfare against American Indians. Some people have doubted these stories...

The above letter reads : "P.S. I will try to inocculate the Indians by means of Blankets that may fall in their hands, taking care however not to get the disease myself. As it is pity to oppose good men against them, I wish we could make use of the Spaniard's Method, and hunt them with English Dogs. Supported by Rangers, and some Light Horse, who would I think effectively  extirpate or remove that Vermine.  H.B."

The above letter reads: “P.S. You will Do well to try to innoculate the Indians by means of Blankets, as well as to try Every other method that can serve to Extirpate this Execrable Race. I should be very glad your Scheme for Hunting them Down by Dogs could take Effect, but England is at too great a Distance to think of that at present.”

Citations:

" Jeffrey Amherst and small pox blankets" 

"500 Nations:Invasions of the Coast" web 25 April 2012 

P.S. I will try to inocculate the Indians by means of Blankets that may fall in their hands, taking care however not to get the disease myself.  As it is pity to oppose good men against them, I wish we could make use of the Spaniard's Method, and hunt them with English Dogs. Supported by Rangers, and some Light Horse, who would I think effectively extirpate or remove that Vermine.  H.B.