Before muskets fired, the war for independence began in print. The colonial press shaped minds, spread ideas, and laid the groundwork for revolution. To understand ’76, we must return to the birth of America’s newspapers.
Let’s dive in. 🇺🇸 #AmRev
The first American paper, Publick Occurrences (Boston, 1690), lasted one issue before being banned for printing without royal approval. From the start, the press and power were in conflict.
By the early 1700s, printers operated under strict licenses and censorship. Yet colonists hungered for news, from European wars to local politics. These fragile sheets became lifelines of information.
The Zenger Trial of 1735 changed everything. John Peter Zenger, jailed for criticizing New York’s governor, was acquitted. His case established truth as a defense and cracked the crown’s control over the press.
By mid-century, newspapers flourished across the colonies. Weekly issues carried essays, sermons, satire, and fiery letters. They became print republics; town halls for debate long before Congress assembled.
Benjamin Franklin turned the Pennsylvania Gazette into the gold standard. Witty, sharp, and full of essays on liberty, it carried the famous “Join, or Die” cartoon, an early icon of unity and resistance.
By the 1760s, newspapers weren’t just reporting events, they were shaping them. The Stamp Act, sugar duties, and standing armies were fought first in columns and editorials before they were fought in the streets.
By the 1760s, newspapers weren’t just reporting events, they were shaping them. The Stamp Act, sugar duties, and standing armies were fought first in columns and editorials before they were fought in the streets.
By 1775, nearly every colony had patriot or loyalist presses battling for hearts and minds. The stage was set: before muskets cracked at Lexington, the press had already carried America into revolution. 🇺🇸 #AmRev
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