THE GREAT EPIZOOTIC OF 1872 Equine Influenza Devastates
America
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AMERICA COMES TO A HALT Imagine a transportation disaster that
within 90 days affected every aspect of American transportation,
everything Americans took for granted, and everything that ensured
their safety.
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AMERICA RAN ON HORSE POWER Throughout most of U.S. history, the
horse has been the engine of business and commerce. Our nation
relied on the gentle animal to move freight and perform countless
tasks.
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The horse population in the U.S.
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A highly contagious strain of equine influenza originated in
Toronto, Canada and swept south into the US in late 1872, affecting
the entire country within 90 days. It is estimated that 80%-99% of
horses were eventually infected. Horses were unable to stand in
their stables and were seen coughing violently in the streets.
9/25-Markham, Ont. 10/1- Toronto 10/10-Detroit 10/14- Buffalo, NY
10/17-Rochester, NY 10/18- Montreal 10/19- Syracuse, NY 10/21-
Keene, NH 10/22- NY, NY 10/22- Boston 10/23- Bangor, Me 10/23-
Chicago 10/24- Baltimore 10/26- Pontiac, Mi 10/28- Philadelphia
10/28- Wash D.C. 10/29-Columbus, OH 11/1- Newark, De 11/2-
Charleston 11/4- Springfield, Ill 11/5-Grand Rapids 11/6- Richmond,
Va 11/10- Indianapolis 11/10-Savannah 11/13- Louisville 11/27- New
Orleans 12/1-Colorado Springs 12/7-Havana, Cuba
1/26-Albuquerque
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AMERICA CAME TO A STANDSTILL The government in Washington D.C.
was shut down Ships in New York harbor could not unload their cargo
A small fire in Boston grew into a devastating inferno destroying a
large amount of the city The U.S. Cavalry was forced to fight the
Apaches on foot
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EVERYDAY LIFE WAS FROZEN In Philadelphia, streetcar companies
suspended service undelivered freight accumulated at wharves and
railroad depots consumers lacked milk, ice and groceries saloons
lacked beer work halted at construction sites, brickyards and
factories city governments curtailed fire protection and garbage
collection.
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ISOLATING DIDNT HELP While the mortality rate was relatively
low, estimated at only 1%-2% overall, large cities lost many more
horses than in rural areas. Since there were no horses to haul coal
out of mines, many railroads went bankrupt as well as thousands of
other businesses.
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NEWSPAPER REPORTS Reporting in the New York Times gives an
insight into the extent of the outbreak. "There is hardly a public
stable in the city which is not affected. the paper reported on
October 24, 1872. "It is not uncommon along the streets of the city
to see horses dragging along with drooping heads and at intervals
coughing violently." "Large quantities of freight are accumulating
along the Erie Railway in Paterson, New Jersey. The disease is
spreading rapidly in Bangor, Maine. All fire department horses in
Providence, Rhode Island, are sick."
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THE FATE OF THE ECONOMY WAS IN JEOPARDY It was becoming
apparent that a nation so heavily dependent on the horse for so
much could suffer an economic calamity from this epidemic.
Remember, this disease began spreading in the fall of 1872. What
are most farmers doing in the fall of every year? How do Midwestern
crops get to Eastern cities? What impact would this event have on
your ability to buy food for your family?
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GREAT BOSTON FIRE OF 1872 One of the major casualties of the
Great Epizootic was the city of Boston itself. A great fire swept
through the industrial section on November 9, ultimately destroying
65 acres of the city, comprising 776 buildings.
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No one is certain how the fire started. The water supply in the
area was inadequate, and many of the buildings had wooden roofs and
were filled with flammable materials. Citizens of Boston were
forced to haul water to the location on foot, without the
assistance of heavy, faster-moving horses.
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THE LACK OF HORSES AFFECTED THE OUTCOME OF THE APACHE WAR
"There was still another source of discomfort which should not be
overlooked. At that time the peculiar disease known as the
epizootic made its appearance in the United States and reached
Arizona, crippling the resources of the Department in horses and
mules; we had to abandon our animals, and take our rations and
blanket upon our backs, and do the best we could. Captain John
Bourke 1891 The Chiricahua Apache chief, Cochise, was a famous
mounted guerrilla.
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SUPPLY & DEMAND THE IMPACT ON PRICES
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$54321 specifiedtime period a specified time period other
things being equal P QDQDQDQD1020355580 Price decreases; QD
increases Consumers willingness to buy $5$4$3$2$1 D 0 10 20 35 55
80 Quantity Demanded QD how much will be purchased at a specific
price [& date].
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. QS 2 Direct Reasons For Upsloping S Curve There is increasing
opportunity cost if you dont produce. 1. There is increasing
opportunity cost if you dont produce. 2. Current producers produce
more [overtime/more shifts] 3. New producers are attracted to the
market. S refers to the whole supply curve and refers to what
producers will supply at different prices. producers will supply at
different prices. QS refers to a point on the curve and refers to
what producers will supply at a particular price. producers will
supply at a particular price. Change in QS 1. Price change 2.
Movement (up/down S curve) 3. Point to point (along S curve) S QS 1
QS 1 P2P2P2P2 P1P1P1P1 increasesincreases Price increases; QS
increases decreasesdecreases Price decreases; QS decreases
Producers want the highest price possible.
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P Q o $5 4 3 2 1 PQDQD $5 4 3 2 1 10 20 35 50 70 D Price of
Corn Quantity of Corn CORN Connect the Points 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
80 GRAPHING DEMAND [Change in QD]
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S Q o $5 $4 $3 $2 $1 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 $5 4 3 2 1 60 50
35 20 5 PQSQS Price of Corn Quantity of Corn CORN Plot the Points
Connect the Points
American Flags After 9-11 Q o D1D1D1D1 Price (per flag) S1S1 P
Q1Q1 Q2Q2 P1P1P1P1 P2P2P2P2 D2D2D2D2 Patriotism Surge after 9/11
Patriotism Surge after 9/11