Speculative theory

Smallpox BlanketsAtlas

Health & Medicine · Pandemics & disease origins

The phrase “smallpox blankets” functions in public discourse as a shorthand for alleged colonial biological warfare against Indigenous peoples. A longstanding historical claim holds that British officers distributed smallpox-infected blankets to Native American groups during the colonial era.

Scores

LSI: 82
ESI: 63
PI: —
Prominence: 80

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Timeline

1760 · eventPeriod cited for alleged British distribution of infected blankets
1763 · eventAlleged giving of smallpox-related materials to Indigenous peoples
1763 · eventPontiac's War context for smallpox-blanket claims
2017 · popularizationBedside Rounds podcast episode on smallpox blankets
2018 · amplificationGenetic Literacy Project review of colonial smallpox-blanket question
2020 · amplificationNative Teaching Aids and related public retellings of the blankets story
2023 · amplificationAll That's Interesting feature on the smallpox blankets narrative
2025 · amplificationJordan M. Poss essay on smallpox blankets

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