The Press and the Revolution
nTo understand what led to revolution.
nTo explain the role of the press in inciting the American Revolution.
nTo understand the impact of the Revolution on the press.
Today’s Story
nVoices of Revolt
uTories
uWhigs
uPatriots
nThe Newspaper as a Potent Medium to Incite Revolution.
nImpact of the Revolution on the Practice of Journalism
Reluctant Revolution
nSeven Years’ War (French and Indian War)
uNearly bankrupts Britain
uColonists get a biggg head
Reluctant Revolution
nStamp Act of 1765
uNo taxation without representation
uHit lawyers and journalists
Voices of Revolt
nThe Tories
nThe Whigs
nThe Patriots
The Tories
nPolitical Philosophy
üRetain the basic structure of colonial society
üContinues governing by right of property, heredity, position, and tradition
nPolitical Press
üJames Rivington
James Rivington
nThe Journalist
üInfluential
üFamily publishers of religious books
üProprietor of the first chain of bookstores in America
üPublished the very profitable Gazetteer
James Rivington
nImportance
üRespected for his objectivity that was not standard in this era
The Whigs
nPolitical Philosophy
üNarrow view of liberty
üNo taxation without representation
üNo interest in the rise of common man
üProperty rights over human rights
nPolitical Press
üJohn Dickinson
John Dickinson
nPenman of the Revolution
üWrote Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania
Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania
nPrepared public for revolution
nAddressed:
üNew York Assembly
üTownshend Revenue Acts
The Patriots
nPolitical Philosophy
üRepudiate the home country
üParliament ignored basic rights
nPolitical Press
üSamuel Adams
üIsaiah Thomas
Samuel Adams
nMaster of the puppets
üWrote for the Gazette
üAdvertised advantages of victory
üAroused the masses
üNeutralized opponents’ arguments
Samuel Adams
nImportance
üUsed the colonial newspaper to ignite the American Revolution as he pulled the strings of the actors.
Samuel Adams
nSons of Liberty
nJournal of Occurrences
Sons of Liberty
nCore of the revolutionary movement
nFormed after the Stamp Act of 1765
nMovements
üBoston Massacre of 1770
üThe Tea Act of 1773
üBoston Harbor Closing of 1774
Journal of Occurrences
nTracked movement and actions of soldiers throughout colonies
Isaiah Thomas
nPublisher of the Massachusetts Spy
üMost incendiary publication during the Revolution
üOutspoken in his advocacy for independence
nWrote first history of printing in America
Influence of the Patriot Press
n“The exertions of the army would have been insufficient to effect the revolution, unless the great body of the people had been prepared for it, and also kept in a constant disposition to oppose Great Britain. In establishing American independence, the pen and the press had a merit equal to that of the sword.”
nDAVID RAMSEY, Patriot who participated in Revolutionary activities and then wrote the earliest history of the war
Newspaper as Revolutionary Force
nFactors making newspapers a potent medium for Revolution--
üYouth of proprietors
üCrown’s halt of licensing led to proliferation of newspapers
Two Stages of Transformation in 18th Century Colonial Newspapers
#Stage 1: 1720
The advent of competition brought about the emergence of public debate in the press.
#Stage 2: 1765
Newspapers take on partisan identity as the Crown imposes a stamp tax on the colonies
The Revolutionary War’s Impact on the Press
nReadership
nDistribution
nEditorials
The Revolutionary War’s Impact on the Press
nReadership
uGenerated thirst for news
uEditions increase from once a week to two or three times a week
The Revolutionary War’s Impact on the Press
nDistribution
uPrivate post riders
uDelivery boys
uTrained pigeons
The Revolutionary War’s Impact on the Press
nForerunners of the Newspaper Editorial
uDistinction between news and comment
uEditorial page develops from partisan style of writing—lead followed by commentary
Conclusion
nNewspaper competition brought competing philosophies which generated political discourse—erupting into war.
nThe press was indispensable in affecting public sentiment leading to the Revolution.