Yellow Fever Conspiracy

There is a deadly killer roaming the streets of Philadelphia, unfortunately you are just a merchant, who happens to be in the lowest part of society, therefore fleeing the city is not an option because you are unable to afford it. In this case, what would you do? The year was 1793, it was the end of a summer that would seem to last forever, but fall was right around the corner. It was a time of celebration for the people of Philadelphia after all they did win the American Revolution, but at the blink of an eye all that would come to an end. Unnoticeable, yes it was by the simple fact that Philadelphia was one of the busiest cities. Despite the terrible conditions brought along with the summer heat, ships would dock, goods would be exchanged,

While the book Chains talks about a thirteen year old girl, Isabel, fighting to gain what is rightfully hers, freedom. Although these books seem very different they do convey similar messages. One of these themes that can be pointed out is acts of heroism where scarifies of oneself for the better good of the people were made in both books. In An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 many doctors sacrificed their lives to save others and find a cure, as did a few black Americans. In addition, the mayor stood along his fellow citizens and he decided something has to be done enable to save his town. As in Chains Isabel wanted to gain her freedom and she would do whatever it took. Isabel also sacrificed herself for the better good of her friend, Curzon, she risked the possibility of death if caught to save his life and make her way to freedom. In like manner both books although unlike share a common

The hot summers came along with intense heat, heavy rainfall, mosquitoes everywhere, and open sewers. Although these odors did a great danger on the people’s health business would still go on. Since the Americans had just won the Revolutionary War everyone was celebrating and too busy to notice the fever walking among them. In the streets of Philadelphia quarantine was very low standard. “Dead dish and gooey vegetable matter were exposed and rotted, while swarms of insects droned in the heavy, humid air.” Even though no one had cared about how sanitary the city was this was one of the reasons the disease spread. All the rotten foods and dead animals attracted mosquitoes which then spread the disease from one person to the next. Environment around the people did a major part in spreading the deadly