Cholera - GCSE History Definition

Cholera is a deadly and fast-spreading disease that people usually catch by drinking dirty water. In the 19th century, there were several big cholera outbreaks in Britain, which spread quickly in crowded, dirty cities during the Industrial Revolution. In GCSE History, cholera is important because it helped lead to big changes in public health. John Snow showed that cholera was spread through water, not miasma (bad air). He famously proved this during the 1854 outbreak in London by removing the handle of a water pump on Broad Street, which stopped the spread of the disease. Robert Koch, a German scientist, later discovered the actual bacteria that caused cholera, proving once and for all how the disease spread. Studying cholera helps students understand how deadly diseases forced people to improve public health, and how science and campaigning helped make cities safer and cleaner.