Indian Vaccination Act of 1832


The Indian Vaccination Act was an act that was passed by congress in 1832. The act was passed to vaccinate the Indian Americans for Smallpox to prevent the spread of the disease. It was also passed to remove the Native Americans by moving them west so white Americans could take their land.

History

The act was first passed on May 5, 1832. Lewis Cass, Secretary of War, was the one who designed the act. Members of Congress appropriated 12,000 dollars to vaccinate them. However, the disease killed 90% of the Mandan Indians, who were excluded from the act. It also excluded Hidatsas and Arikaras.
By February 1, 1833, more than 17,000 Indians were vaccinated.