Chapter Summary: Sowing the Seeds of Revolution

     Chapter 1: Sowing the Seeds of Revolution in summary is not about why the revolution ocurred, but how Journalism as a means of inspiration and motivation encourged the colonists to act. As Rodger Streitmatter, the author to Mightier than the Sword states, Revolutions don't occur because of logic. They require passion and the emotional element of Journalism which was brought to the movement by a group of radical  visionaries, fully aware of the power of the press. The chapter touches on individuals who helped influence the revolutionary events through means of Journalistism and how they made a difference. Some of which include Sam Adams initial words in the Boston Gazette,  later inspiriringthe first precursor to todays Associated Press known as Journal of Occurrences; responsible for building opposition to the Britsh troops as well as being pressent for and helping to influencing the Boston Massacre. Another big name mentioned in the chapter is Tom Paine, an influential independent thinker and editor of his time, responsible for Common Sense which encouraged and argued that the american colonists not only deserverd more than what the English had to offer, but were also obligated as citizens to demand much more.

Chapter Interest

         Out of the four chapters, Sowing The Seeds Of Revolution, Abolition, Slowing The Momentum For Women’s Rights, and Attacking Municipal Corruption, the time period of the revolution personally intrigues me the most. I am somewhat of a history buff usually narrowly focusing on times of war. Specifically, something about the idea that a whole nation's ideas and attitude can be shifted because of a few individuals actions to speak out and share their voice is not only the underlying theme of this chapter, but happens to also be in my opinion, the most interesting part of the Revolution.

Chapter Outline



Sowing The Seeds Of Revolution: 1763 - 1776

• For the first time in world history, the discontent of a few colonists created a rebellion so strong and so potent that it would later create a world super power all its own.
• The high cost of a decade of fighting between the French and the British left the British treasury nearly bankrupt

French & Indian War, minidocumentary by James Dunoyer: 2010

I. Dissension Takes Root

• In 1763 British victory over the French during the French and Indian War expelled the French from the colonies, leaving the fur trade solely to the British
• Officials in London decided the colonists should not only pay the bulk of the war debts but should also provide protection for themselves.

II. Sam Adams: Firebrand of the Revolution

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  Portrait of Samuel Adams
  http://www.knowledgerush.com/kr/biography/610/Samuel_Adams/

  
  In the 1760's Sam Adams became a prominent voice in the Boston Gazette, writing hundreds of essays and news articles.
• Adams' words were radical and beginning in 1764 he argued "If our Trade may be taxed, why not our Lands? Why not the Produce of our Lands & everything we possess or make us of?"
• In short, Adams represented an early cry against taxation without representation.



Public Occurrences
Original Location



III. "Journal of Occurrences" as News Service

• Adams created in September 1768, what became America's' first systematic gathering and distributing of news, a precursor to today's Associated Press.
• Adams named his service the "Journal of Occurrences," which quickly turned into a communication network spreading anti-British rhetoric.

IV. Boston Massacre: Not to Be Forgotten

• British Officials withdrew four regiments of militiamen from Boston in the summer of 1769, leaving a small amount of soldiers in the city as guards.
• On March 5, 1770, several citizens began antagonizing the soldiers in front of the British Custom House, ultimately causing one to discharge his musket. (possibly by accident)
• Events quickly escalated to citizens striking back and the British firing their guns. By the end of the skirmish, five colonists were dead.
• The Colonial newspaper accounts of what became known as the Boston Massacre. To ensure the message was fully communicated to illiterate colonists, the Gazette included woodcuts of coffins representing the five dead colonists.

                                   

Created by Mr. Mills BA History Widener University

V. Tom Paine: Voice of Inspiration

• One of the most decisive phases of the pro-revolution campaign began after armed hostilities had broken out in Lexington and Concord in April 1775, which was led by one of the most important writers of the colonial era; Tom Paine.

• Colonists came to know Paine as an independent thinker who wrote inspiring discourse.

Original Image Found At

VI. Common Sense Ignites a Nation

•  In January 1776, Paine wrote Common Sense, an essay on the future of the American Colonies.
• Common Sense argued that men and women not only deserved, but were obligated as citizens of the human race, to demand much more.

• Paine presented separation from Britain as the only viable option for the colonies.
• Through twenty-five separate editions, over 150,000 copies were sold.

VII. Crisis Essays Inspire an Army

Tom Paine

• In august 1776 Paine joined the Continental Army under the command of General George Washington.

• The British military cut through the Americans in numerous battles. On The verge of retreat, At George Washington's request, pain wrote his Crisis essays.

• Washington read the essay to his troops fallowing the first installment printed in the Pennsylvania Journal; a week later the Americans won a crucial victory at the battle at Trenton.

VIII. Stunning Impact

• The early phase of the Journalistic campaign began by political firebrand Sam Adams
• Through the Journal of Occurrences he organized and moved public opinion against British troops
• The reports from the Boston Massacre helped push America closer to the breaking point.
• Common Sense was the final straw needed, which gave the colonists the idea to revolution and the concept of independence. Common Sense transformed mildly discontented citizens into fully committed political insurgents ready to fight for freedom.

Chapter Transition

As stated briefly in my posts from the previous chapter titled, Sowing the Seeds of Revolution, I am somewhat of a history buff; particularly taking interest in periods involving the United States' engaged wars. As interesting a period last chapter was, this chapter too has many interesting twists in history specifically influenced by journalism. The most intriguing part about this chapter and its time concerning war is that the Spanish American War could have been completely avoided had not it been for public discourse influenced by the competition within the Journalism Industry. Just like in the first chapter these events were also sparked by actions responsible by few but ultimately influencing many.

Chapter 5 Summary: Journalism As Warmonger

By the end of the 19th century America had emrged as a world power or as Rodger Streitmatter puts it, "eager both to flex its muscles and to epand its geographic and economic boundaries." Because of the expanding country the economy was growing, opening up many bussiness opportunities. Naturally many entreprenuers saw this as an area where they could express their creative abilities. As a result two individuals by the name of Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst would dominate the era, and once again revolutionize journalism as individuals such as Tom Paine and Sam adams did before them. The competition between the two would fuel a rivaly so fierce that it would eventually create a new form a journalism by "giving birth to a brand of sensationalism known as yellow journalism. A toxic formula one part news to one part hype," says Streitmatter.

Chapter Outline

I. Joseph Pulitzer Pioneers a New Journalism

Joseph Pulitzer

      

       Joseph Pulitzer, born in Hungary in 1847 as József Politzer, emigrated to the United States in 1864 and enlisted in the New York cavalry to help Union during the Civil War. After the war while still a teen, Mr. Pulitzer drifted west and wrote for a German newspaper in St. Louis. By working diligently he was able to buy the St Louis. Post, a bankrupt newspaper company and then buy a second called the St. Louis Dispatch, finally merging the two into the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In 1878 Pulitzer pioneered a new style of reporting that focused on American humanity.  In his opinion, newspaper should be cheap, written clearly, and actively peruse the community's interest. He vowed that "accuracy to a newspaper is what virtue is to a woman." In a short period of time Pulitzer led reform initiates by exposing fraud at polls, getting rid of city brothels, and putting an end to high profits and poor service by gas monopolies. As a result Pulitzer created financial success as Streitmatter staits, "a once-penniless immigrant annual income to $200,000. In 1883 he entered the biggest journalism market in the country by aiming his New York World at the new urban laboring class. Because of his large new audience his paper's circulation soared from 15,000 when he started to 250,000 several years later. He was also responsible for expanding the journalistic technique by introducing women's pages with articles on social etiquette, home decorating, and romantic advice aimed at female readers.

II. William Randolph Hearst Stupifies the World



William Randolph Hearst

        Born in 1863 in California, William Randolph Hearst began life opposite to that of Joseph Pulitzer. William was born into a struck rich family enabling him to attend Harvard. Young Hearst Idolized Pulitzer and persuaded his father to let him edit the San Francisco Time, a financially failing newspaper. With his family's wealth he was able to afford to hire the best staff, enabling him to undertake ambitious campaigns such as lowing city water rates and putting an end to the Southern Pacific Railroads dominance of the Republican Party in California. Streitmatter staits" Hearst Hammered injustice, highlighting murder and scandal, while pushing sports and theater news to page one; hiring reporters exclusively to cover society and financial news." After eight years William Hearst dramatically increased his circulation from 12,000 to 200,000.

 

III. The War of the Newspapers

Yellow Kid Journalism

       At the age of thirty two, Hearst realized his life dream of needing to compete against his lifelong inspiration Joseph Pulitzer, dropping the price of a paper from $.02 to $.01 and introducing color printing in order to lure advertisers away from the World. The term Yellow Journalism came to be as a casualty of war between the two media Titans of the era. Pulitzer was responsible for creating a cartoon featuring a "grinning, snaggle-toothed boy who wore a bright yellow nightshirt that earned him the name Yellow Kid. Eventually both newspapers had hired artists to plaster billboards with posters featuring the character.  The yellow boy mascot came to represent the sensationalistic journalism that defined the era. By 1897 Hearst had pushed the Journal's circulation to 500,000 just short of Worlds' 600,000. In the attempt to our story the other the two papers began to focus on events which ultimately pushed the nation into international war.

IV. The Battleground Shifts to Cuba

       By 1895 Cuban rebels had become extremely tired of Spanish colonial status and began to strike out by wrecking trains and burning sugar plants down. Despite the U.S. State Department regarding the insurgents as insignificant Hearst appointed the men as "courageous freedom fighters struggling against Spanish oppression. Pulitzer initially apposed involvement in Cuba but later admitted that the sole motivation for his change of heart had been the opportunity to increase newspaper circulation. Despite the coverage there was actually little to nothing occurring in Cuba.  According to a reply sent to Hearst from an employee covering in Cuba, "Everything is quiet. There is no trouble here, there will be no war. I wish to return." Disappointed by the enlightenment Hearst still needed stories in order to compete against the World so he stretched stories out to be what they weren’t.  In response the World tracked down the same story, later posting the true events. Helping the rebellion gain momentum, both newspapers published accounts of battles that never took place in order to sensationalize the news.  The accounts focused so much public attention that the U.S Congress knew it would win Washington’s support.

                                                                        William Hearst
V. "Remember the Maine!"

Artist's Rendition of U.S.S Maine explosion

      

       News coverage of Cuba was at its pinnacle from 1895 to 1898. American officials had anchored U.S.S Maine, a battleship, in Havana Harbor in order to acknowledge the United States presence on the situation. Although the cause of the explosion was never determined, on February 15, 1898, the ship exploded killing 260 sailors. Even though   Spain desparately tried avoided bringing the United States into their Conflict with Cuba, both Hearst and Pulitzer exploited the situation in order to create warmongering coverage. "Screaming headlines, misleading drawings, and shrill editorials lamed the Spanish government and demanded that the United States immediately declare war," (Streightmatter). 

 

VI. Overpowering the President
        Both newspapers ridiculed President McKinley saying that his peace stance was cowardly and influenced by Wall Street financiers who thought the war would hurt the economy. Both Newspapers continued to instigate writing: "The army is ready, the navy is ready. The people are ready. And now the president says wait!... Wait for what?" When McKinley in turn called for continued deliberate consideration Hearst and Pulitzer turned up the heat by interviewing relatives and friends of the dead sailors while referencing how he would have felt had McKinley lost his boy in that explosion. Ultimately McKinley caved in due to the eagerness that the fourth estate exerted on the president and the people.


VII. On the Battlefront

     After the war was declared both the Journal's and World continued to maintain hysteria. With material running low and competition between the two high as ever both began posting stories on one another regarding information stings catching each other in acts of falsifying news. At the end of the war, Spain granted Cuba its independence with the newspapers circulation reaching 1.25million each.



New York Journal's Declaration Headline



Chapter Focus

The last five chapters’ selections are all extremely important to America's history which made the decision of which chapter to focus on all the harder. Exposing McCarthy's exploitation of Cold War fears, Setting the Civil Rights Movement to the national agenda, the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, and Rush Limbaugh's Republican Revolution are all pillars for Journalism toward American democracy, so much so that they've all marked turning points in American ideas, politics, culture, and journalistic technique. Despite the importance or significance presented in each chapter I once again find myself concentrating on times of war, more specifically the Vietnam War. Similar to my previous chapter selection Journalism not only helped influence the start of war but shaped it has it occurred. In the American Revolution individuals such as Tom Paine and Sam Adams spoke their voice, influencing hundreds of thousands of people to rise up, let their voices be heard, and challenge the British authority. Then during the war, the same people during time of crisis were able to encourage Americans to Victory. At the end of the 19th century advances in journalism created the Spanish-American war as a byproduct of journalistic competition and set the time frame for how long it lasted. As much as journalism was a part of the American Revolution and the Spanish American War, it was even more prevalent during the age of the Vietnam War, particularly due to the fact that it was not an American Victory.