In July of 1776 the entire of city of Boston was closed so they could safely inoculate for smallpox. It lasted months and no one could leave once it began. They did it again in 1778. The Founders would be proud that the government was protecting its citizens from disease. https://twitter.com/Jim_Jordan/status/1343928371454103553
Many have asked how this was possible if vaccination was not discovered until 1796. That's true, but this is inoculation or variolation introduced by Cotton Mather's African slave Onesimus and first applied broadly in Boston in 1721. It was eventually replaced by vaccination.
And this tweet really blew up. You'll have to all promise to buy my book "The Contagion of Liberty" when it comes out next year, ok?
You can follow @ProfWehrman.
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