How American Biological Warfare Began in 1763
Biological warfare might appear as a notion straight out of fiction novels such as, “Project Blue” from Stephen King’s The Stand, or the plague, “Pale Mare” from George R. R. Martin’s A Dance With Dragons, but in America, it is a concept that has been utilized since the denouement of The French and Indian War. Although, in American history, the year 1763 is often associated with the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War and the conception of Pontiac’s Rebellion, it also marked America’s first ever recorded use of germ warfare, which went on to change how war was conducted in America forever. Despite the end of the French and Indian War on February 10th, 1763 with the Treaty of Paris, four months later, …show more content…
During the Revolutionary War, after the American Colonists’ denouncement of British authority, the British turned on their former allies and used smallpox against the Continental Army. “In Europe, the disease was common, and most British troops had already been exposed to it at an early age, and developed antibodies to protect themselves from it.” But on the other hand, most American soldiers had not had enough exposure to smallpox to develop that same immunity, nor did Commander-in-Chief, George Washington expect that the British would use germ warfare against them, thus smallpox was an optimal and unexpected weapon for the British military. In 1775, both in Boston and Quebec, British troops infected with smallpox were sent out of their cities and into Continental Army camps, and multiple British officers also attempted to infect American troops by releasing infected slaves. Nonetheless, Washington and other American officers caught on to the British strategy and smallpox did not cause the British to emerge victorious from the Revolutionary War as it did the French and Indian …show more content…
During World War I, The United States developed the Chemical Warfare Service, and briefly conducted research on a lethal, natural, plant protein called ricin, but after the signing of the Geneva Protocol, which prohibited "asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases, and of all analogous liquids, materials or devices" and "bacteriological methods of warfare," all research on chemical weapons were officially terminated. However, as The United States’ involvement in conflict and their provisional list of enemies began to grow, they once again began to fund a biological defense programs such as the U.S Army Chemical Corps and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense. Currently, The United States is openly conducting research on vaccines and antiviruses that could be used to combat diseases that could be used in Biological
Biological warfare might appear as a notion straight out of fiction novels such as, “Project Blue” from Stephen King’s The Stand, or the plague, “Pale Mare” from George R. R. Martin’s A Dance With Dragons, but in America, it is a concept that has been utilized since the denouement of The French and Indian War. Although, in American history, the year 1763 is often associated with the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War and the conception of Pontiac’s Rebellion, it also marked America’s first ever recorded use of germ warfare, which went on to change how war was conducted in America forever. Despite the end of the French and Indian War on February 10th, 1763 with the Treaty of Paris, four months later, …show more content…
During the Revolutionary War, after the American Colonists’ denouncement of British authority, the British turned on their former allies and used smallpox against the Continental Army. “In Europe, the disease was common, and most British troops had already been exposed to it at an early age, and developed antibodies to protect themselves from it.” But on the other hand, most American soldiers had not had enough exposure to smallpox to develop that same immunity, nor did Commander-in-Chief, George Washington expect that the British would use germ warfare against them, thus smallpox was an optimal and unexpected weapon for the British military. In 1775, both in Boston and Quebec, British troops infected with smallpox were sent out of their cities and into Continental Army camps, and multiple British officers also attempted to infect American troops by releasing infected slaves. Nonetheless, Washington and other American officers caught on to the British strategy and smallpox did not cause the British to emerge victorious from the Revolutionary War as it did the French and Indian …show more content…
During World War I, The United States developed the Chemical Warfare Service, and briefly conducted research on a lethal, natural, plant protein called ricin, but after the signing of the Geneva Protocol, which prohibited "asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases, and of all analogous liquids, materials or devices" and "bacteriological methods of warfare," all research on chemical weapons were officially terminated. However, as The United States’ involvement in conflict and their provisional list of enemies began to grow, they once again began to fund a biological defense programs such as the U.S Army Chemical Corps and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense. Currently, The United States is openly conducting research on vaccines and antiviruses that could be used to combat diseases that could be used in Biological