Yellow fever resourcesthe historical society of pennsylvania offers a wide range of sources from original letters to prominent members involved in the epidemic such as dr. In august, 1793, 14yearold matilda mattie cook is awakened by her mother, lucille cook, scolding her for sleeping late. Attempting to flee with her grandfather, mattie finds that escaping disaster wont be so simple. The vast majority of them died of yellow fever, making the epidemic in the city of 50,000 people one of the most severe in united states history.
Inspired in part by the reallife yellow fever epidemic of 1793 and the historical fictional account in the book fever 1793 by laurie halse anderson, the constitutionals new yellow fever tour is a walking journey through old city philadelphia featuring the stories, sites and circumstances of the evil epidemic which killed nearly 5,000 people. The fever 1793 community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Mattie would rather daydream about escaping philadelphia, much like blanchards hotair balloon which flew earlier that year, but she reluctantly complies. Also, the symptoms were so severe that being diagnosed with yellow fever was considered a death sentence.
During the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia, 3,000 or more people were listed in the official register of deaths between august 1 and november 9. Linking to a nonfederal website does not constitute an endorsement by cdc or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. By the end of september, 20,000 people had fled the city. In the 1793 yellow fever epidemic, blacks died at the same rate as whites. Published in 2000, fever 1793 is a young adult novel that tells the story of a 14yearold girl named mattie cook, who fights to survive the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 in philadelphia. Yellow fever tour the constitutional walking tour of. The yellow fever epidemic of 1793 and its impact on the. It is a historical novel about a 14 year old girl, matilda, trying to survive an outbreak of yellow fever. George washington 17321799 in 1793 george washington was the first president of the united states. Benjamin rush, to visuals of philadelphia from the time of yellow fever, as well as a list of all persons admitted to bush hill hospital during the epidemic. Hes one of matildas most crucial mentors in the novel the two are very close. A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the above information is accurate, and that you are the owner or are authorized to act on behalf of. In 1799, the board ordered the construction of a complex of buildings on an island in the delaware river about seven miles south of.
In the laurie halse andersons suspenseful novel, fever. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. Eliza, a free black woman, is the coffeehouse cook. Mattie, at the beginning of the book, is a bratty and self absorbed teenager. Dead house on the schuylkill during the yellow fever in philadelphia in 1793, watercolor by david j. Matties gumption and drive see her through some horrific experiences, as she becomes an adult and has to survive on her own in the city of brotherly love which loses that. The symbol of yellow balloon in fever 1793 from litcharts. How the 2019 coronavirus mimics philadelphias 1793 plague. Laurie halse andersons fever, 1793 is a novel about a fourteenyearold girl named matilda mattie cook who comes of age during the infamous yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia in 1793. Yellow fever maps centers for disease control and prevention.
During the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 in philadelphia, 5,000 or more people were listed in the official register of deaths between august 1 and november 9. Sometimes its hard to keep track of what lucille cook is up to during fever, 1793. Historical figures involved with yellow fever in 1793. Mattie and her grandfather are walking home when they see a man dump a frail body on the coffeehouse doorstep. Kennedy, philadelphia, undated courtesy historical society of pennsylvania this structure stored some of the bodies awaiting burial during the epidemic. Historical fiction works wonderfully in the middle school classroom because it can be used to tie together language arts and social studies. Grandfather captain william farnsworth cook in fever, 1793. This epidemic infected and killed about 10% of the population, which at the time was about. Yellow fever yf virus is a singlestranded rna virus that belongs to the genus flavivirus.
Encyclopedia of greater philadelphia fever 1793 novel. Yellow fever broke out in boston in 1693, philadelphia in 1793 and norfolk, virginia in 1855, but the worst american outbreak of yellow fever occurred in the mississippi river valley in 1878. See more ideas about yellow fever, this or that questions and historical fiction. Due to most fleeing, that meant all of the food source was. An epidemic of yellow fever, which struck the city in august of 1793 and lasts almost till december, changes matties life once and for all. Vectorborne transmission of yf virus occurs via the bite of an infected mosquito, primarily aedes or haemagogus spp. The roaring furnace, sparks crackling in the air, the sizzle of hot metal into cold waterit all.
Fever 1793 questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on fever 1793. Yellow fever, or american plague as it was known at the time, is a viral disease that begins with fever and muscle pain. Matilda mattie cook is a fourteenyearold girl living above a coffeehouse in philadelphia with her mother, grandfather a former military man, a parrot named king george, and an orange cat named silas. He has a pet parrot named king george that he won in a card game.
Book design by steve scott the text for this book is set in adobe caslon. Fever 1793 brings even more to the table it can bring science and math into play as well activities for fever 1793. The death toll from a yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia hits 100 on october 11, 1793. Mattie is needed immediately to help in their coffeehouse, since their serving girl, polly, is late for work. Mattie is, for the most part, just a normal teenager.
Brought into america by french colonial refugees escaping a slave revolution in saintdominique. At first, many residents believed it was simply a common autumnal illness. Author laurie halse anderson writes about such a time in fever, 1793. Politics of yellow fever in alexander hamiltons america. Manufactured in the united states of america 26 28 30 29 27 the library of congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows. What are character traits for mattie in the book fever.
The book describes in graphic detail the symptoms, progress, and agonies of the disease, and how it destroys lives and families when philadelphia falls victim in 1793. In the year 1793, yellow fever was a dreaded disease. Bring historical fiction into the ela, ss, science, and math classroom. In late october, after temperatures cooled and the mosquitoes died off, a newspaper reported that the malignant fever. Over the course of spring and summer of 1878, this region recorded 120,000 cases of yellow fever and between,000 and 20,000 deaths from the disease.
The deadly virus continued to strike cities, mostly eastern seaports and gulf coast cities, for the next two hundred years, killing. On august 19, 1793, the first fatality of yellow fever, peter aston, became a topic of general conversation according to mathew carey, irishborn american publisher and first hand witness to the beginning of the plague. After that, mattie becomes a survivor of the yellow fever. The fever 1793 quotes below all refer to the symbol of yellow balloon. An american plague was one of the finalists in the 2003 national book award and was a 2004 newbery honor book. The yellow fever epidemic challenged the citys health and political infrastructure, and revealed a nation illprepared to support its citizens in such difficult times. A vocabulary list featuring fever 1793 by laurie halse anderson, chapters 16. As we summarize andersons book, well highlight some of the important characters. See more ideas about yellow fever, matilda and staying alive. This made the city vacant, only leaving behind the poor who could not afford the trip to the country. Fever 1793 by laurie halse anderson plot summary litcharts.
When yellow fever struck philadelphia he left along with the cabinet. The fever 1793 quotes below are all either spoken by matilda mattie cook or refer to matilda mattie cook. The problem in the book fever 1793 is the outbreak of yellow fever in philadelphia in the year 1793. Matilda mattie cook character analysis in fever 1793. Mattie cooks simple life in philadelphia is shattered when an epidemic of yellow fever rages through the city in the summer of 1793.
One reason for this fear was that nobody knew where the disease originated. In this story it shows us the events that take place in matildas life when the fever strikes the coffeehouse and takes away the people she cared about from her life. This is a great little ya book that delves into the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 in philadelphia. Yellow fever has stricken the city of philadelphia and caused most of the residents to flee to the country to reach fresh air. Following the devastation of 1793 and several smaller yellow fever outbreaks later that decade, a philadelphia board of health was established. Grandfather is a symbol of an earlier time since, as he reminds us over and over, he was a soldier in the revolutionary war.
This is a story about matildas transformation from a careless child to a responsible, strongwilled and kindhearted young woman. Benjamin rush, who led the fight against the plague of yellow fever in philadelphia of 1793. Fever 1793 fever 1793 was written by laurie halse anderson, and first published in 2000. This study guide consists of approximately 50 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of fever 1793. They carry her to the bedroom and call a physician who tells them falsely that she does not have the fever. The book is both wellwritten and wellresearched, filled with details about the plague and its effect on all aspects of life in philadelphia starting in the summer of 1793. Philadelphia, 1793 a deadly outbreak of yellow fever prompted an array of responses and remedies from various doctors, medical institutions, and health experts within the city. Inspired by the yellow fever epidemic that struck and killed almost 5,000 people in philadelphia in the late summer months of 1793, andersons story follows matilda cook. Create a timeline of the yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia, consulting the primary sources that anderson cites. The closest ive ever gotten to yellow fever was getting vaccinated against it prior to travel. In its wake, important changes were made to promote public health, and to ensure philadelphia and the nation would be better prepared in. Find teaching ideas for fever 1793 by laurie halse anderson.
Mattie and her mother travel to the ogilvies expensive and large home where they are greeted by mrs. Because of the yellow fever epidemic in 1793 in philadelphia its hard for maddie 14 year old girl and main character to survive and live through it. In 1793 philadelphia, sixteenyearold matilda cook, separated. Oct 24, 2015 the book fever 1793 gives us a glimpse of how the yellow fever had changed the lives of many people.
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