Epidemics Shape Governance

The control of urban centers significantly influenced historical events, as demonstrated by how smallpox forced military withdrawals that altered the course of national boundaries. Despite widespread awareness of epidemics like smallpox, malaria, and cholera during the framing of the Constitution, the founders failed to include provisions addressing public health crises. This highlights the resilience of foundational democratic principles aimed at enduring hardships, yet it also raises questions about contemporary interpretations, particularly in electoral contexts where fiduciary responsibilities under constitutional amendments, such as the First Amendment, are viewed through partisan perspectives.