| − | Anti-Christians teach that the Christian Europeans deliberately spread [[smallpox]] among the [[American Indians]], as in handing out blankets with the germs. "... the myth is so vibrant that it made its way into a scene in the movie [[Broken Trail]] (2006)." [http://www.badeagle.com/2009/03/08/pox-pundits-and-american-indian-genocide/] | + | Anti-Christians teach that the Christian Europeans deliberately spread [[smallpox]] among the [[American Indians]], as in handing out blankets with the germs. "... the myth is so vibrant that it made its way into a scene in the movie [[Broken Trail]] (2006)."<ref> [http://www.badeagle.com/2009/03/08/pox-pundits-and-american-indian-genocide/]</ref> |
| | In fact, the [[germ theory of disease]] was not even discovered until the 19th century. | | In fact, the [[germ theory of disease]] was not even discovered until the 19th century. |
| − | :'... at odds with any such idea is the effort of the United States government at this time tovaccinate the native population. Smallpox vaccination, a procedure developed by the English country doctor [[Edward Jenner]] in 1796, was first ordered in 1801 by [[President Jefferson]]; the program continued in force for three decades, though its implementation was slowed both by the resistance of the Indians, who suspected a trick, and by lack of interest on the part of some officials. Still, as Thornton writes: "[[Vaccination]] of American Indians did eventually succeed in reducing mortality from smallpox."' [http://hnn.us/articles/7302.html] | + | :'... at odds with any such idea is the effort of the United States government at this time tovaccinate the native population. Smallpox vaccination, a procedure developed by the English country doctor [[Edward Jenner]] in 1796, was first ordered in 1801 by [[President Jefferson]]; the program continued in force for three decades, though its implementation was slowed both by the resistance of the Indians, who suspected a trick, and by lack of interest on the part of some officials. Still, as Thornton writes: "[[Vaccination]] of American Indians did eventually succeed in reducing mortality from smallpox."'<ref> [http://hnn.us/articles/7302.html]</ref> |