As American independence rang, a sweeping lockdown and mass inoculations fought off a smallpox outbreak
- Written by Woody Holton, Professor of History, University of South Carolina
The first reading of the Declaration of Independence in Boston, July 18, 1776.Tichnor Brothers Collection, Boston Public Library via Digital CommonwealthMany Americans of the founding era denounced government tyranny, celebrated the Declaration of Independence – and favored lockdowns and mass inoculations to combat a viciously contagious...