jan 1, 1639 - Smallpox Epidemic Causes Dispersal of Remaining Wendat Confederacy

Description:

The smallpox epidemic was the third large scale illness to befall the Wendat communities after contact with the French, following an unknown disease in 1634 and an influenza outbreak in 1636. Along with the other outbreaks, the smallpox epidemic led to a breakdown in the Wendat Confederacy.

With no observed French casualties of disease, the Wendat had started losing trust in the French, even believing it was a spiritual attack by French Jesuits.

Eventually the Wendat population was brought down significantly by the disease and their territory taken over, a blow to the French as well as they had lost both allies and territory.

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