COLONIAL PUBLICATIONS

VALERIE SCHRAERPERIOD THREE

QUICK HISTORY OF EARLY PUBLICATIONS

1439

• Johannes Gutenberg invents the printing press

1640s

• English newspapers begin to use headlines, advertisements and woodcuts

Late 1600s

• Newspapers gain popularity throughout western Europe

1690

• The first newspapers were printed in Boston

The First Publications

Newspapers became popular later than other regions because the population of the colonies was so sparse

First newspaper in America was called Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick

Issued in 1690 by Benjamin Harris

The First Publications

The first publications in the colonies proved to be uncontroversial

The Boston News-Letter, The Boston Gazette and The American Weekly Mercury were careful and did not offend colonial authorities

In New York, The New York Gazette and New York Weekly Journal prevailed in the early eighteenth century

The New England Courant

Published in 1721 by James Franklin

The Courant was the first time a newspaper in the colonies had provided an opinion or an argument for any particular issue

Franklin was incarcerated in 1722

In order to keep the publication going, Franklin passed the torch to his younger brother Benjamin Franklin

The New York Weekly Journal

Began publications in 1733 by John Peter Zenger

Criticized William Cosby (governor at time) and the colony’s administration

Pointed out the flaws in system, and did not support any of the colonial policies

The Zenger Trial (1733)

Zenger was arrested and charged with seditious libel

The ultimatum pronounced Zenger as innocent

The lawyer, Andrew Hamilton, inspired the jury to see the newspaper as a “struggle for freedom”

Following the trial, no American journalists were prosecuted by British authorities

Publications During Revolution

Stamp Act (1765)

Because of the Stamp Act, buying newspapers became a hassle for the lower classes

The newspapers were against the act and began to rebel

The Maryland Gazette began calling itself An Apparition of the Late Maryland Gazette

Townshend Acts (1767)

Following the repeal of the Stamp Act, British parliament approve the Townshend Acts in 1767

Townshend Acts were on glass, lead, paint, tea and paper

Once again, the newspapers rebelled and another victory was attained

The victory was in large part because of the press

Common Sense

Pamphlet published by Thomas Paine in 1776

Explained, in the most common terms, that it was time for the Americans to separate from Great Britain

First work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain

Pro-Revolution Newspapers

The majority of newspapers were for the separation

These newspapers were The Boston Gazette, New York Journal, Boston Spy, Providence Gazette

The Providence Gazette was published by two women, Sarah and Mary Katherine Goddard

Sons of Liberty and Publications

The newspapers and publications gave voice to the Sons of Liberty

If there were no publications, the Sons of Liberty would have had to rely on only the word of mouth

The vast majority of newspapers showed loyalty to the Sons of Liberty and the revolution

Loyal Newspapers

The New York Gazetteer (James Rivington) gave voice to the loyalists that wanted to remain with Great Britain

The Sons of Liberty were against Rivington, despite their ideal of free press

Rivington, because of their reaction, grew more open to loyalist opinions

Importance of Publications

One of the American Revolution’s main causes is the circulation of the publications

It was the first time that a press was open about overthrowing the government

Newspapers could be seen as the most important publication because they had to circulate periodically

Urgency of the Publications

Perhaps the newspapers and pamphlets were seen as radical because the editors and authors could not hide from the British once their works were published

However, no one from the press felt stopped by the British

Usually, newspapers were intended to preserve the power of authorities, but there was a large turning point beginning in the Americas

PUBLICATION TIMELINE…

1690

• First publication in the colonies

17th Century

• Newspapers and publications in colonies were not controversial, yet

1721

• James Franklin

1733

• Zenger Trial

…PUBLICATION TIMELINE

1765

• Stamp Act

1767

• Townshend Acts

1770

• Boston Massacre occurs, killing five people

1776

• Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense

July 4,

1776

• Independence is gained for the Americans

Bibliography

Brinkley Text Book

https://www.nyu.edu/classes/stephens/Collier's%20page.htm

http://www2.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/16071783/news/

http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/