The editorial board of the Kalamazoo Gazette write an excellent editorial for National Newspaper Week entitled “Newspapers helped win Revolutionary War” I recommend it. Following is a teaser.
During the current National Newspaper Week, it’s especially appropriate to examine the impact that newspapers
had on the success of the rebellion against the British.
Although there were only 13 colonial newspapers operating on the eve of the war, they reported about and reflected the colonists’ anger over the oppressive measures imposed by King George III and his Parliament.
Pamphlets also were important, especially one written by patriot Thomas Paine and titled, “Common Sense.” With passion, Paine presented the case for revolution. The pamphlet was wildly successful. It changed the hearts and minds of many colonists who had opposed the rebellion. Paine’s work was described by one historian as “the most incendiary and popular pamphlet of the entire revolutionary era.”
Collectively, however, newspapers did the most thorough job — up to and throughout the conflict.
Articles by revolutionary propagandists were a major factor in turning public opinion from reconciliation with England to full political independence.
