Which social groups were least affected by deaths in cholera epidemics of 1847 and 1854?

• A. Working class
• B. Lower classes
• C. Middle and upper classes
• D. All classes equally

Answer: (C)

The pattern here shows how living conditions and access to resources shape disease impact. In the 1847 and 1854 cholera outbreaks, the poorest people lived in crowded, unsanitary urban areas with contaminated water and shared facilities, which made it much easier for the disease to spread and for deaths to occur. Those in the middle and upper classes typically had better housing with less crowding, more reliable water supplies, and the means to move away from affected areas or to obtain quicker medical help. Because of these advantages, middle and upper classes experienced fewer deaths, making them the groups least affected. The working and lower classes faced the highest risk, and it isn’t correct to say all classes were affected equally.