VOL. XVII, NO. 9
MARCH 8, 1976
Media Changes With History
By DAVE JOHNSON
The newspaper has changed since the Revolutionary War almost as much as the nation itself. Without the newspaper the United States probably would not be what it is today. Before the days of television, radio, and even the telephone and telegraph, the newspaper was the sole source of information about the country's affairs and how the government was handling them available to the people.
Without the newspaper the United States probably wouldn't have begun to truly take shape until the 1850's and 60's when the telegraph was used on a wide scale.
In the eighteenth century the newspaper carried stories of the unfair things England was doing to the colonies, and many people throughout the colonies became angry.
As tension grew, all newspapers were banned from telling bad things about the king, which further infuriated the colonists. The two sides were on the verge of war, and further restrictions were put on the colonies. People were told to stop talking adversely about England in public or face jail.
The colonists were even banned from meeting in public. The newspapers played their first important role in the development of the United States at this time. The colonists met in secret and used a code to tell others about the meeting. A newspaper printer might have said, "Say, John. You do know you owe The Sun eight shillings don't you?" The other would reply, "Yes."
This actually meant that there was to be a secret meeting at the print shop at 8p.m.
When the Revolutionary War ended, the new United States could finally settle down in peace and freedom. Newspapers probably came out once a month and carried stories which were up to two weeks old; but to the readers, it was news.
The newspaper has changed since the Revolutionary War almost as much as the nation itself. Without the newspaper the United States probably would not be what it is today. Before the days of television, radio, and even the telephone and telegraph, the newspaper was the sole source of information about the country's affairs and how the government was handling them available to the people.
Without the newspaper the United States probably wouldn't have begun to truly take shape until the 1850's and 60's when the telegraph was used on a wide scale.
In the eighteenth century the newspaper carried stories of the unfair things England was doing to the colonies, and many people throughout the colonies became angry.
As tension grew, all newspapers were banned from telling bad things about the king, which further infuriated the colonists. The two sides were on the verge of war, and further restrictions were put on the colonies. People were told to stop talking adversely about England in public or face jail.
The colonists were even banned from meeting in public. The newspapers played their first important role in the development of the United States at this time. The colonists met in secret and used a code to tell others about the meeting. A newspaper printer might have said, "Say, John. You do know you owe The Sun eight shillings don't you?" The other would reply, "Yes."
This actually meant that there was to be a secret meeting at the print shop at 8p.m.
When the Revolutionary War ended, the new United States could finally settle down in peace and freedom. Newspapers probably came out once a month and carried stories which were up to two weeks old; but to the readers, it was news.
Not actually until the 1830's did the U.S. newspapers grow. The great western movement was beginning and so was the Industrial Revolution. Steam engines were being toyed with, and the locomotive was invented. Cities grew larger and more people gave up farming. The monthly newspapers were still used largely, but new weekly editions were showing up in large cities.
During the 1850's and 60's, the western movement was in full swing. The North and the South were at war over slavery, and newspapers were now appearing in many cities all over the states and territories. Bi‑weekly editions were invented so people could read updated news, possibly only a day old. It was still impossible to have very speedy service, but it was faster than ever before.
During the Civil War, newspapers in the United States had their first chance to print stories of nationwide importance. People began to realize that the newspaper was a very important part of normal life.
The growth period of the newspaper began in the 1870's when the United States began growing faster. Cities had doubled their population since 1850; trains and telegraphs linked the East and West; and many new inventions made life easier and quicker: the telephone, the stock ticker, the incandescent electric lamp, and the start of daily papers.
People could find out what was going on in the country for only one or two cents a day. Newspapers set up subscriptions so one could buy now and pay later. Also newspapers regularly used drawings and sketches to help describe certain news stories.
(Continued next issue)
During the 1850's and 60's, the western movement was in full swing. The North and the South were at war over slavery, and newspapers were now appearing in many cities all over the states and territories. Bi‑weekly editions were invented so people could read updated news, possibly only a day old. It was still impossible to have very speedy service, but it was faster than ever before.
During the Civil War, newspapers in the United States had their first chance to print stories of nationwide importance. People began to realize that the newspaper was a very important part of normal life.
The growth period of the newspaper began in the 1870's when the United States began growing faster. Cities had doubled their population since 1850; trains and telegraphs linked the East and West; and many new inventions made life easier and quicker: the telephone, the stock ticker, the incandescent electric lamp, and the start of daily papers.
People could find out what was going on in the country for only one or two cents a day. Newspapers set up subscriptions so one could buy now and pay later. Also newspapers regularly used drawings and sketches to help describe certain news stories.
(Continued next issue)