23. The American economy recovered quickly
Because the shutdowns of businesses across the country were sporadic and staggered, the overall economy suffered little during the Spanish Flu, at least in the United States. The brief economic downturn which marked the beginning of the 1920s affected returning servicemen, but within a few months, American industry produced consumer goods at previously unforeseen levels. About 875,000 Americans died from the Spanish Flu, more than 12 times the fatalities suffered by the American military during the World War. The average life expectancy for Americans dropped by about ten years. The economy barely faltered.
Prior to these events of 1918, America suffered numerous epidemics of dangerous diseases, including other bouts with influenza. Following this tragedy, other diseases continued to claim American lives annually, including tuberculosis, polio, cholera, yellow fever, scarlet fever, measles, malaria, and others. The Spanish Flu rapidly became part of the past, to the point it earned the sobriquet of the forgotten flu. The manner in which it appeared and swept the country remained hidden to the general public until recent events brought it back to the forefront of public attention. A century after this grim chapter in history, Americans again find themselves urged to self-isolate and avoid crowds. At the same time, some Americans claim that we have never faced anything like the current situation before. They are wrong.