The First Opposition to a Public Health Service in the United States

Race has everything to do with it

In the United States, the history of who has access to healthcare and who doesn’t is rooted in racism.

In the 18th and 19th century, there were two clear examples of a federal healthcare policy. One was wholeheartedly celebrated, the other was frowned upon.

In this article, I will first write about the first successful attempt at setting up a public health service, then readers will discover why it was later derided.

The first federal public health law

On July 1798, President John Adams signed an “Act for relief of sick and disabled Seamen”. The aim was to collect 20 cents per month from every sailor.

The money would then be spent on taking care of the sick and build hospitals. The Marine Hospital Service was created thanks to the Act.

The government worked on a solution to counter the spread of the yellow fever that was affecting sailors.

In the summer of 1798, more than 5000 of them died, politicians gathered in numerous meetings to find the best way to help sailors.

Seamen and the larger public celebrated the new Act as everyone recognised that it was a matter of public health.

Unfortunately this state of mind changed when Abraham Lincoln decided to set up a healthcare program for newly freed slaves.

The Freedmen’s Bureau

When the civil war ended, it was imperative for Lincoln to support former slaves. The Bureau dealt with various issues (food, shelter, education…) in order to provide the best assistance to newly freed African-Americans.

Health was the most pressing matter for former slaves as yellow fever, chicken pox, cholera and starvation devastated their camps.

The Freedmen’s Bureau Act, signed in 1865, provided funding for a healthcare program aimed at freed slaves.

Unfortunately, this Act was vetoed in 1866 by Andrew Johnson who became president after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Johnson argued that the Act prevented former slaves from becoming independent. To him, the government should not fund a healthcare program for newly freed citizens. He believed that individuals should care for their own health.

The public backed Johnson’s train of thoughts and the Freedmen’s Bureau stopped operating by 1870 due to a lack of funding.

Conclusion

It is unfortunate that the opposition to the first Public Health program was rooted in racism. The fact that the Freedmen’s bureau had to deal with terrible setbacks helps us understand today’s society.

Health should not have a price tag!