Fever 1793

Summary: August 1793. Fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook is ambitious, adventurous, and sick to death of listening to her mother. Mattie has plans of her own. She wants to turn the Cook Coffeehouse into the finest business in Philadelphia, the capital of the new United States.  

But the waterfront is abuzz with reports of disease. "Fever" spreads from the docks and creeps toward Mattie's home, threatening everything she holds dear

As the cemeteries fill with fever victims, fear turns to panic, and thousands flee the city. Then tragedy strikes the coffeehouse, and Mattie is trapped in a living nightmare. Suddenly, her struggle to build a better life must give way to something even more important -- the fight to stay alive.

Arizona  Standards

Social Studies

Standard 1: History

Students analyze the human experience through time, recognize the relationships of events and people and interpret significant patterns, themes, ideas, beliefs, and turning points in Arizona, American and world history.

PO 2. construction various timelines of key events, people, and periods of historical data being studied

PO 3. framing questions that can be answered by historical study and research

PO 4 describing the difference between a primary source document and a secondary source document and the relationships between them.

Standard Strand 2 Science 

Concept 1: History of Science as a Human Endeavor. Identify individual, cultural, and technological contributions to scientific knowledge.

Standards 1,2,3 Writing

1. Writing Process

2. Writing Elements

3.Writing Applications

Standard Reading

Strand 1 Reading Process

Concept 4 Vocabulary

Concept 5 Fluency

Concept 6 Comprehension Strategies

Strand 2 Comprehending Literary Text

Concept 1 Elements of Literature

Concept 2 Historical and Cultural Aspects of Literature

Strand 3 Comprehending Informational Text

Concept 1 Expository Text

Guiding Questions

 

  • What was Philadelphia like in 1793? What were the advantages and disadvantages of living in the countryside outside of Philadelphia?

  • How was the life of a 14-year-old in 1793 different from the life of a 14-year-old today? In which period would you rather live? Why?

  • What are the greatest advancements American society has made since then? How have we regressed?

  • Mattie's grandfather didn't think there was any need to rush out of Philadelphia when the fever started to spread. Why did some people think it was safe to stay? What would you have done?
  • The color yellow is used throughout the story. What does it symbolize? What other symbols are used in the book?
  • When does Mattie move from being a child to being a young adult?
  • What do you think will happen to Mattie, her mother, and friends in 1794? What will their lives look like in 1800? In 1813?
  • During the Revolutionary War, women took on tasks that were traditionally performed by men. After the War, they were expected to go back to their spinning wheels and kitchens. How are Mattie's dreams in conflict with what her society expected of young women? Why did Mattie's mother want a different life for her daughter?
  • The Free African Society volunteered to take care of the sick and bury the dead, even though there was no cure for yellow fever. How do you think they felt? Why did they do that? Would you have helped?
  • What comparisons can you make between life in Philadelphia during the epidemic and life in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein?
  
 

Things To Do


History

Mattie was born in 1776. Make a timeline of Mattie's life and the life of the United States.

Philadelphia was home to the largest population of free African-Americans in the United States. Research how escaped slaves made their way to Philadelphia. When did these routes become the Underground Railroad? Make a multimedia presentation using music from the late 1700s.

Language Arts

Rewrite a scene from Eliza's point of view.

Make a list of words they used in 1793 that we don't use today, such as "balderdash" and "bunkum." What words that we use today might sound strange and old-fashioned in the year 2200?

Using the novel Fever 1793 and Internet links  your group will research, write, and edit a newspaper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1793. There is a shortage of paper, and your group realizes that the next edition will be the last one for awhile.  You have just enough paper to put out a two page edition.

Since you will be writing a 1793 newspaper, as a group check out these 1700s newspapers: 


When you publish your newspaper, you shall include:

As individual reporters each of you will be using your news writing skills to submit an article on one of the following topics: 

  • An obituary of a fever victim or someone in the story.

 

Math

Calculate how many people died in the yellow fever epidemic. Compare the mortality rate with that of the 1918 influenza epidemic and the AIDS epidemic.

Research how epidemics affect a city's economy, including the effects on the price of food and medicine, the jobless rate, the crime rate, and travel.

Develop charts and graphs that explore the infection and mortality rate of the epidemic in Philadelphia in 1793, and the global rate in modern times.

Science

Research the work of Dr. Walter Reed. How do mosquitoes spread yellow fever? What other diseases do mosquitoes spread? Why aren't all diseases spread this way?

What diseases cause epidemics today in the United States? What about other parts of the world?

How would doctors and scientists respond today if a mysterious disease started to spread through a major American city?

Classroom Fun

Put on a tea party like the Ogilvie's did, or turn your classroom into the Cook Coffeehouse. Use recipes from the late 1700s and invite the community!

Write a screenplay for your favorite scenes from the book. Make the movie and hold a premiere in your library.

Important Links

**Yellow Fever**

As its title implies, this book is focused on the epidemic of Yellow Fever that took place in Philadelphia, PA in 1793. Matilda gets her first exposure to the disease in Chapter 3 when her friend, Polly Logan dies. As the story continues, Mattie must face the illness many more times in various ways. While it was a mysterious illness back then, there is tons of information on it today.  Click on any of the following links to learn more about this terrible epidemic.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3p1590.html 

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/WW/fever.html

http://www.rootsweb.com/~txhender/hepidemics.html A list of epidemics that have hit the United States throughout history.

http://www.umich.edu/~newsinfo/Releases/1995/May95/r052295b.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3h460.html

Yellow Fever: Linking Science and History

 http://www.enc.org/features/calendar/unit/0%2C1819%2C251%2C00.shtm

 

**Philadephia**

This story take place in Philadelphia, PA. This city was the temporary home of the government from 1790 to 1800. These links will give you a little more information about this famous city.

http://www.ushistory.org/philadelphia/philadelphia.html

http://www.ushistory.org/philadelphia/timeline/index.html

http://www.gwu.edu/~ffcp/exhibit/p12/p12_5.html Discusses Congress's move to Philadelphia.

 

**George Washington**

On page 19, Mattie describes her Grandfather as having been "an army officer his whole life, and was happiest when serving under General Washington."  Also, back on page 7, Mattie tells us that her family's business of running a coffeehouse "improved when President Washington's house was built two blocks away." George Washington is mentioned throughout this book as a great leader. Check out these links to learn more about this famous American.

http://www.multied.com/Bio/presidents/washington.html

http://www.ushistory.org/germantown/people/washington.htm

 

**Coffeehouses**

Mattie's family owned and ran the Cook Coffeehouse. She tells us that "a coffeehouse was a respectable business for a widow and her father-in-law to run." Coffeehouses have been around a long time.  Read about their beginnings at this link.

http://www.cupocoffee.com/pages/origins.htm

 

**Gingerbread**

On page 10, we learn that one of Eliza's specialties is gingerbread.  "Nutmeg and cinnamon perfumed the air as she ground the spices with a pestle." Mattie said, "If not for the heat, I could have stayed in the kitchen for an eternity." (p. 11)  Why not try to make your own gingerbread from scratch?  Here are a few recipes to get you started.

http://www.melborponsti.com/mastermx/mix010.shtml

http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/guides/563

http://www.hbook.com/exhibit/wilder.html A gingerbread recipe from Laura Ingalls Wilder!

 

**Free African Society**

On page 57, Eliza reaches for her pretty straw hat and says, " The Free African Society is having a meeting about the fever. It should prove a lively gathering." Founded in 1787, this group was formed to be a mutual aid organization devoted to helping widowed, ill, or out-of-work African-Americans. The following list of links gives lots more information about this historic membership.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/BHM/Allen/preamble.shtml Preamble of Free African Society

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3h457.html Mortality report published by the Society

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3p97.html Founder Richard Allen

http://www.episcopal-dso.org/pages/album/absalom/a_jones.htm Founder Absalom Jones

 

**Famous People**

There are famous people scattered throughout this book, which really gives the reader a sense of going back in time and reliving the true historical account.  Benjamin Rush was one of the most famous doctors in the country.  Thomas Jefferson was, at the time, Secretary of State. Charles Wilson Peale, a famous painter, created several well-known paintings during this time in history.  The following links will help you sort out the "Who's Who" during the time period in this book.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3p458.html Benjamin Rush

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/jefferson.htm Thomas Jefferson

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3h34.html Charles Wilson Peale--famous painting

 

**Philadelphia Marketplace**

The marketplace comes alive on pages 27-28. Mattie recounts the experience: "As I crossed Fourth Street, the noise from the market splashed over me like a wave. 'Fresh fish fit for the pan!' 'Raaaaaaspberries! Blaaaaaaaackberries!' 'Pepperpot!All hot! Makee strong! Makee live long! Come buy my pepperpot!' Chickens clucked and geese honked, customers argued about the price ofpears and children ran everywhere." 

Don't you feel like you are there?!  Take a look at the painting in the link below.  The image seems to come to life!

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3h251.html Philadelphia Market

 

**Afternoon Tea**

Much to Mattie's dismay, on page 41, she and her mother are invited to Pernilla Ogilvie's for afternoon tea.  While very few Americans take part in afternoon tea nowadays, back in the 1700's it was a regular custom/practice.  What is this custom? How did it get started?  What kinds of things does one eat at this type of gathering? These links will help you find out!

http://www.panix.com/~kendra/tea/afternoon_tea.html Afternoon Tea History

http://www.afternoonteaparty.com/ Tea Parties

http://hometown.aol.com/kanga1/tearecipes.htm Recipes

http://home.att.net/~dfaglon/tearecipe.html More recipes

 

**Revolutionary War**

Throughout the book, Grandfather speaks of his days in the war with great pride.  "Captain William Farnsworth Cook, Pennsylvania Fifth Regiment, here to escort you beyond the lines of the dread and terrible enemy, Yellow Fever, Miss Matilda." (p. 77) We also read often about his treasured sword.  Look at the links below to learn more about this historic war.

http://www.eleventhpa.org/ Revolutionary War info

http://64.41.64.113/11thpa/images/uni-12.jpg Grandfather’s Sword?

http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/EMS/RevWar/AmRevolution.htm Revolutionary War

http://www.multied.com/revolt/ Revolutionary  War

 

**Hot-Air Ballooning**

The first-ever hot-air balloon launched in the United States was done so in Philadelphia on January 9, 1793 by the French aeronaut Jean Pierre Blanchard.  This event made quite a mark on Mattie's heart.  She speaks of it several times throughout the story. "A few more minutes' rest, that's what I needed. I'd float back to sleep, drifting like Blanchard's giant yellow balloon." (p.2)  "I could see that clear January morning, the moment of release when the balloon floated above the rooftops. I thought all things were possible in heaven and on earth that day." (p. 208) "I smiled as the mist faded. The yellow sun rose , a giant balloon filled with prayers and hopes and promise. Day was begun." (p. 243)

Learn more about hot-air ballooning at the links below.

http://www.balloonzone.com/history.html Hot-Air Balloon History

http://www.ballooning.org/ballooning/timeline.html Ballooning timeline

http://www.balloonzone.com/balloonparts.html Hot-Air Ballooning

http://www.howstuffworks.com/hot-air-balloon.htm How Hot-Air Balloons work

http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Dictionary/blanchard/DI10.htm Blanchard Bio