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Students explore the yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia in 1793. They examine competing explanations of yellow fever and reflect on how politics and responses to the epidemic influenced each other.

Educators are welcome to adapt these resources to their students’ interests and desired learning outcomes.

Lesson Plan
Portrait of an African American man

Yellow Fever in 1793 and Today

6–8
History & Social Studies; Health Education
Students examine the effects of the yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia in 1793, then gather information on yellow fever prevention and treatment today.
University Module
Picture of men in 18th century dress fighting

Factions, Parties, and Yellow Fever

When yellow fever hit Philadelphia in 1793, experts were divided as to where the deadly disease might have come from and how, or even why, it spread. Students consider how politicians, doctors, laypeople, and Philadelphia’s marginalized residents responded to the epidemic in the face of so much uncertainty.
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