America250: Communications

America250: Communications

In an age before mass media such as radio, television, and the Internet, print was the primary form of mass communication in the 18th century. While other forms of communication such as oratory (public speeches, sermons, etc) and handwritten documents such as diaries, letters, and business records were widespread, print was the primary means to spread information to the public. Print sources included formats such as broadsides, handbills, published letters, pamphlets, newspapers, forms, picture prints, books, and magazines. Many editions of some popular printed items were produced in different cities in the colonies as well as in Britian (and vice versa), demonstrating  communication and cultural exchange between the colonies and the mother country (Britain). In addition, popular English-language publications were sometimes printed in German for German-American populations living in colonies such as Pennsylvania.

In the 18th century the same content might be printed at various times and places for a variety of reasons. Due to limitations in copyright laws and a reluctance by printers to invest too much material and labor into printing large numbers of the same item, another printer in another location may print the same content for sale to their local population. This can be see in three different printings or editions of the same political pamphlet seen below printed in Philadelphia, Watertown, Massachusetts, and London, England. In other cases a work in one language might be printed as a translation into another language so that other cultures could read the same message. 

Original English version of Weems' Life of Washington, 1800

The Creation of Myth

Mason Locke Weems (1759-1825) was a minister who wrote the first biography of George Washington after his death in 1799. Weems, helped establish the myth of Washington and celebration of Washington as an American hero and icon. Weems' biography is responsible for many tales told in American history of the virtuous Washington, the most famous being the tale of the cherry tree and Washington who could not tell a lie when confronted by his father about who had chopped the tree down. Weems' biography of Washington was published in over 50 editions throughout the 19th century with the cherry tree tale first added in 1806 editions.

German version of Weems' Life of Washington

Acculturation at Work

Parson Weems' biography of Washington was enormously popular in the 19th century and was also published as several German language versions such as this one printed in Lebanon, PA. This interest in Washington by German speaking populations reflects the process of acculturation by which new immigrants were exposed to American ideals and culture, eventually adopting them as their own.

A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North-America, Now Met in General Congress at Philadelphia, Setting Forth the Causes and Necessity of Their Taking up Arms

The Original Edition

This work was originally published around July 6, 1775 in Philadelphia and laid out the reasons the Colonies were fighting the British. While this message was sent to the government in London by the American Continental Congress, this printed version was for the public in the colonies to read.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

By publishing their message to the British government in this format for Americans to read, how do you think the Continental Congress expected Americans to react to the arguments made in this pamphlet?

Do you think they thought Americans would agree or disagree?

What language is used in this work to motivate Americans to agree or disagree?

A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North-America, Now Met in General Congress at Philadelphia, Setting Forth the Causes and Necessity of Their Taking up Arms

Massachusetts Edition

This edition was printed later than the Philadelphia edition, for reading by citizens in New England and particularly Massachusetts.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

Do you think that the Continental Congress expected citizens of Massachusetts reading this pamphlet to feel the same way about war with Britain as citizens of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey who read the Philadelphia-printed edition?

Why or why not?

The Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North America : Now Met in General Congress at Philadelphia, Setting Forth the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms...

British edition

This edition of the original Philadelphia-printed work was published in London for reading by the British public, likely several weeks or months after the July 1775 Philadelphia edition.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

Who do you think printed this edition of the Continental Congress's reasons for war with Britain?

What do you think the printer's motives were in printing this?

Do you think that British citizens reading this would have the same opinion as Americans reading this? Why or why not?

Oration Delivered at the State-House, in Philadelphia, to a Very Numerous Audience; on Thursday the 1st of August 1776 / By Samuel Adams

Fake?

Samuel Adams was one of America's most fervent patriots in the years leading up to the American Revolution and this pro-independence public address a few weeks after the Declaration of Independence is attributed to him. While the authorship makes sense, there is some evidence to suggest that Adams never gave this address including the fact that no actual Philadelphia printing appears to survive as claimed on the title page of this Dublin Ireland printed edition, leading one to believe that this work originated in Dublin or London (there was a London edition as well).

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

Do you know what a false imprint is?

Examine August 1776 issues of the Pennsylvania Gazette newspaper and see if you can find any reference to Samuel Adams giving this address.

If this was not by Samuel Adams, what would be someone's motivation to forge or fake this item?

 

Different versions or editions of the same printed item were produced by various printers at different times. These versions could differ in size, layout, format, printing method, and presentation depending on the printer and audience.

The Dunlap Broadside Version of the Declaration of Independence, July 5, 1776

The first appearance of the Declaration in print

Only July 4, 1776 the delegates of the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia agreed on a final version of their Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. Earlier drafts were produced in hand-written form by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and James Madison and presented to the other delegates. On the night of July 4/July 5, 1776 the finished version was printed by Philadelphia printer John Dunlap for distribution to American troops in the field as well as colonies and cities in the new United States. Approximately 200 versions were printed of which 23 currently survive. The version shown here represents the look of the 1776 Dunlap printing while itself being a 21st century reproduction.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

This is an example of a broadside. What is a broadside? Do you know another term for a broadside?

What does the size of this item (about 12 x18 inches), large printed letters, and the fact that it is printed on only side suggest how it was meant to be used, seen, and read by people?

Is this something you would buy and take home to read?

The Pennsylvania Evening Post Newspaper Version of the Declaration of Independence July 6, 1776

One of the first appearances of the Declaration in a newspaper

The version of the Declaration seen here was printed in the July 6, 1776 edition of the Philadelphia newspaper the Pennsylvania Evening Post. As a circulating newspaper, there would have been more copies of this version printed and distributed in the colony of Pennsylvania and adjacent colony of New Jersey than the Dunlap broadside.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

Can you define what a newspaper is?

How does this item differ from the broadside item above?

Is this something you would buy and read at home?

The Pennsylvania Gazette Newspaper Version of the Declaration of Independence July 10, 1776

Several other Philadelphia newspapers beat the Pennsylvania Gazette in publishing the Declaration of Independence for people to read for themselves.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

Can you determine which days of the week July 4, July 5, July 6, and July 10, 1776 were? Hint: Look at the Pennsylvania Evening Post newspaper or an online perpetual calendar.

Why do you think the Pennsylvania Evening Post was able to print the Declaration on July 6, while the Pennsylvania Gazette did not print it until July 10?

Why do you think it took longer to print the Declaration in these newspapers as opposed to the Dunlap Broadside?

The Stone Engraved Version of the Engrossed Copy of the Declaration of Independence, 1844

Facsimile of the one-of-a kind signed version

Shortly after Dunlap released his printed version of the Declaration, the manuscript version was being prepared for signing by the delegates of the Continental Congress on August 4, 1776. This is known as the engrossed copy and is the one held by the National Archives in Washington, DC. As a government document, the engrossed version was reproduced in 1844 in print using the engraving process and was part of a series of printed books containing the archives of the United States. 

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

What is the difference between a mansucript and a printed item?

Which would you choose to do if you wanted to share something you wrote with a friend, a large group of friends, or the public? Would you write copies or have your writing printed? Which do you think would be faster?

What is a facsimile and why do you think such items are/were made?

 

Did you know that several common expressions derive from the print industry? Examples include:

  • Mind your ps and qs
  • Upper case and lower case
  • Out of sorts

Have you heard these expressions? What do you think they meant in the 18th century versus today?

Did you know that the "f" you may think you see in 18th century words such as "Congreſs" or "Purſuit of Happineſs" is actually a stylized long "s" or ſ and not an "f" at all. Look closely and you will see that the long "s" or ſ as it appears does not have the dash seen in a real "f"  Read more about this here