Using Local History To Understand National Themes

The Yellow Fever Epidemic In Philadelphia In 1793

Abstract

College teachers of American history cover national themes such as the nature of the American Revolution and the establishment of the federal government because students must understand them if they are to gain a reliable knowledge of America's past. On the other hand, local history topics can be extremely valuable when they show larger historical themes from the ground up, so to speak. In addition, local topics offer manageable and focused research projects for students taking a variety of courses. As one example, the study of Philadelphia and its people during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 illustrates both important local issues and larger national themes. Using Philadelphia as a microcosm, students can discern race and gender at work in American society, as well as discovering how medicine and politics interacted in the early Republic's political party system. The epidemic also shows the tension between strict and loose construction of the Constitution as President George Washington struggled with constitutional problems caused by the outbreak of disease in Philadelphia. These topics provide useful material to supplement lectures and spark discussion among students and offer abundant sources and opportunities for undergraduate research.