The Politics of Disease

<p> Even a pandemic is subject to politics. Disease has always been a catalyst for change influencing wars the rise and fall of leaders economics religion art and most certainly people's lives. Disease as Covid demonstrates can be politicized as well. While the pandemic that erupted in 2019 may be the most politicized in American history it is far from the only one. Indeed disease has afflicted the United States since the beginning and it has been exploited by politicians the media and others to further their agendas. Parties have defined disease and disease has defined political parties.</p><p> From the 16th century to the present this work traces the interactions of disease and politics in the United States. Major pandemics local outbreaks and even presidential illnesses are all examined to see how political parties have seized upon their origins spread and treatment to promote their own ideologies. Immigration civil rights gender war economics public health modernization and elections are all discussed in relation to the outbreaks. The book demonstrates how disease helped secure independence led to the writing of the Constitution brought America into the War of 1812 and the Spanish-American War led to limits on immigration kept the United States out of the League of Nations led to women voting produced two political parties--and more.</p>