Smallpox and Native American mortality: The 1780s epidemic in the Hudson Bay region
The smallpox epidemic of 1781–82 in the Hudson Bay region is said to have devastated the native population, causing mortality of at least 50%. We reassess this claim using a four-pronged approach. First, we total smallpox deaths reported by two fur trading posts that were in the midst of the epidemi...
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ftrepec:oai:RePEc:eee:exehis:v:49:y:2012:i:3:p:277-290 2024-04-14T08:12:49+00:00 Smallpox and Native American mortality: The 1780s epidemic in the Hudson Bay region Carlos, Ann M. Lewis, Frank D. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014498312000162 unknown http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014498312000162 article ftrepec 2024-03-19T10:29:27Z The smallpox epidemic of 1781–82 in the Hudson Bay region is said to have devastated the native population, causing mortality of at least 50%. We reassess this claim using a four-pronged approach. First, we total smallpox deaths reported by two fur trading posts that were in the midst of the epidemic. Second, we review case fatality rates in other smallpox outbreaks, and discuss the likely incidence of the disease among Native Americans. Third, we analyse trade during the period of the epidemic. Fourth, we estimate the native population prior to the epidemic based on the carrying capacity of the region. All four approaches lead to a similar conclusion. Mortality from smallpox was likely under 20%, which is much less than previously asserted. Smallpox; Native Americans; Fur trade; Population; Health; Article in Journal/Newspaper Hudson Bay RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) Hudson Bay Hudson |
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Open Polar |
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RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) |
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unknown |
description |
The smallpox epidemic of 1781–82 in the Hudson Bay region is said to have devastated the native population, causing mortality of at least 50%. We reassess this claim using a four-pronged approach. First, we total smallpox deaths reported by two fur trading posts that were in the midst of the epidemic. Second, we review case fatality rates in other smallpox outbreaks, and discuss the likely incidence of the disease among Native Americans. Third, we analyse trade during the period of the epidemic. Fourth, we estimate the native population prior to the epidemic based on the carrying capacity of the region. All four approaches lead to a similar conclusion. Mortality from smallpox was likely under 20%, which is much less than previously asserted. Smallpox; Native Americans; Fur trade; Population; Health; |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Carlos, Ann M. Lewis, Frank D. |
spellingShingle |
Carlos, Ann M. Lewis, Frank D. Smallpox and Native American mortality: The 1780s epidemic in the Hudson Bay region |
author_facet |
Carlos, Ann M. Lewis, Frank D. |
author_sort |
Carlos, Ann M. |
title |
Smallpox and Native American mortality: The 1780s epidemic in the Hudson Bay region |
title_short |
Smallpox and Native American mortality: The 1780s epidemic in the Hudson Bay region |
title_full |
Smallpox and Native American mortality: The 1780s epidemic in the Hudson Bay region |
title_fullStr |
Smallpox and Native American mortality: The 1780s epidemic in the Hudson Bay region |
title_full_unstemmed |
Smallpox and Native American mortality: The 1780s epidemic in the Hudson Bay region |
title_sort |
smallpox and native american mortality: the 1780s epidemic in the hudson bay region |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014498312000162 |
geographic |
Hudson Bay Hudson |
geographic_facet |
Hudson Bay Hudson |
genre |
Hudson Bay |
genre_facet |
Hudson Bay |
op_relation |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014498312000162 |
_version_ |
1796310668839747584 |