Why did small pox kill so many cherokees in such a short time?

Cherokee, like many other Native American's were susceptible to a variety of diseases carried by people from Europe; the unclean living standards practiced by that society is rife for disease. There has been documented proof that the European Settlers (White Americans) Intentionally spread the most fatal forms of smallpox among the Cherokee by giving them blankets from smallpox hospitals. This fatal form kills in 6 to 16 days with a 90% fatality rate.

The basic reason is that the Cherokees and other native Americans didn't have any built up immunity to European diseases.

the tribe did not know the deasease

Why did smallpox kill so many cherokees in such a short time

This may help you understand, assuming you are studying American epidemics. You do not make that clear, so I'm guessing.

http://www.jid.oxfordjournals.org › Volume 197 Issue Supplement 1

I agree with MS Sue, the other thing was cultural. Indians, especially Plains Indians, did not have a very high level of hygiene.

Now to Arian's post. "documented Proof" hardly. In no case were settlers invovled, the "documented" allegations have to do with one army fort, and a number of letters in earlier times from British Officers.
Now if the Churchill book is offered as "documented proof", here is a nice commentary on that lie: http://www.thefurtrapper.com/indian_smallpox.htm#Plains%20Smallpox

I don't get it