Introduction

American Newspapers During the Revolutionary War

If there wasn't a newspaper, would there have been a Revolution? That question is raised by many. Through the spreading of information about rallies and British wrongs, as well as many ideas and questions that made people think about what they were actually feeling. It made people stop and think hard about becoming a patriot. There were no such things as phone calls, internet, emails, and so on, and the only way people found out about what was going on in different colonies was word by mouth and print. The newspapers spread stories about rebellion in a colony, for example the Boston Tea Party. Newspapers let people know where help was needed, new laws and consequences that had been suffered by the townspeople. So would there have been an American Revolution without the spread of news and ideas throughout the colonies? Maybe not.

Consequences of the Printers

If you were a printer during these times, there were many consequences you could suffer. From hanging in effigy to taring and feathering, it seemed as if you were never safe. People continued to print, no matter what could have happened to them. The idea of the spreading the idea of a revolution to all the colonies scared the British immensely. This is why they continued with their printing, to rally and scare the British. Now, newspapers of this time Era didn't exactly threaten the British, although it did spread stories about defying the British rule. Soldiers and the British didn't like the idea of revolution happening. Some people printed until they ran out of all paper, ran dry on ink, until they died printing on the press. People needed to hear about what was going on during this time, across the colonies. Soldiers would charge their way into print shops and demand to see the newspapers they recently printed, and if they said anything the soldiers thought was to be threatening they would have destroyed the papers, close the print shop, and hang or tar the printer himself.

Impact on Society

Tories and Patriots

Newspapers had a huge role on people in the colonies in general, let alone during the Revolutionary War. As it has been said, there might not have even been a revolution if it weren't for newspapers. Some threatened the British, while others peacefully requested supplies and help to certain colonies. Some were patriot and some were Torie, but either way they got people who read them to support their side.

Communities During the War

During the war, communities were split. The person you thought would be your best friend forever suddenly became an enemy. Printsmen were being arrested and hanged by British soliders, no matter how long you had know the person or how innocent they looked. Communities where destroyed and rebuilt with other Tories or other Patriots, but just because you weren't a patriot doesn't mean that you weren't allowed to talk to Tories, although many didn't. You couldn't be punished for being a patriot, unless you showed sign of rebellion.

Stories of the Papers

I recently read a book called, "Johnny Tremain" by Esthter Forbes. In this book Forbes describes the struggle of a 14 year old boy during the revolution, who works as an apprentinced silversmith until he injures his hand, and then his thumb gets stuck with the rest of his hand. This family was a family of Tories, although he himself had always had a wild side. He goes on a journey to find his true self, and that's when he meets Rab, a boy a little older then him who gives him food and soon after offers him a job. He rejects the job offer and keeps looking but he goes back not much later to take him up on the job. So as a job, Johnny rides around the colonies delivering the papers. While riding he reads these papers, and decides that he's a patriot, and from then on he does everything in his power to help the Continental Congress.

Now, many things happen throughout this book, but there is a sort of, love story, between Johnny and a girl named Priscilla. When he returns from finding himself, Pricilla's mother figure tells him that they will never be, and it's because he barley makes a living as far as money goes, and she doesn't like the idea that she would be leaving with him, afterall she is a Torie. This is just one example of how this war broke up communities and families, as well as love.

 To Learn More about the Federalist Paper, click here.

To Learn More about the war and its two sides, click here.

By Emma Berg

Bibliography

Hamilton, A.. "Federalest papers ." . The Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 9 Apr 2012. <http://thomas.loc.gov/home/histdox/fedpapers.html>.

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