Colonial

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Colonial

• Newspapers

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Where was the first newspaper in America printed?

• Boston, Massachusetts
• September 25, 1690
• Benjamin Harris, publisher. He had published
  sensational newspapers in England before being
  thrown in jail and forced to flee to America
  because of an article he had written against the
  Catholic church.
• The first issue of Americas first newspaper,
  Publick Occurances, was also the last.

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Where was the second newspaper in America printed?

• Boston, of course.
• The Boston News-Letter, distributed by John
  Campbell, postmaster, was much tamer. It was
  filled with lots of information taken from London
  papers.
• It first appeared in print in 1704 and survived
  for 72 years.

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The Boston Gazette, Americas third newspaper

• first appeared on December 21, 1719.
• Campbell lost his position of postmaster and
  refused to give up the newspaper. His
  replacement, William Brooker, began printing his
  own newspaper.
• These papers were careful not to offend colonial
  authorities.

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The New England Courant on August 19, 1721,
became Americas fourth newspaper.

• William Brooker was replaced as postmaster. His
  printer, James Franklin, was also replaced.
• James wanted to start his own newspaper even
  though his family told him a third newspaper in
  Boston could not survive.
• James criticized the government and was sent to
  prison. His 13 year old apprentice and brother
  took over the work of laying type, printing, and
  delivery of the issues.
• What was his name?

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Ben Franklin, of course.

• Benjamin Franklin was officially
• named editor and publisher.
• Young Ben, now legally being free of being an
  apprentice, and not liking his brother James, ran
  away to New York and later to Philadelphia. The
  New England Courant kept publishing issues
  claiming Ben Franklin was editor and publisher
  until 1726 without anyone being the wiser.

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Whats important about this particular newspaper?
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It was renamed Pennsylvania Gazette .

• Why?
• Samuel Keimer sold his newspaper to Benjamin
  Franklin and his partner Hugh Meredith.
• The first issue under this title was dated
  Thursday September 25th to Thursday October 2nd,
  1729.

Benjamin Franklin
1748
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Newspapers in Early America..

• Did they lead to controversy?
• Were they the only way people communicated with
  each other?
• Was freedom of the press allowed?
• What role did the newspaper take on after the
  American Revolution?
• Lets compare newspapers.

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References

• www.benledwards.com/edwards/robinsontavern
• www.americanantiquaranian.org/newspapers8.htm
• www.historybuff.com/library/reffirstten
• www.nps.gov/.../Pages/franklinyoungbf.
• www.librarycompany.org/BFWriter/entre.
• www.common-place.org/vol-03/no-04/philadelphia/
• www.assumption.edu/ahc/1770s/ppressfree
• www.assumption.edu/aha/1770s/pprinthisthomas.html
• www.nyu.edu/classes/stephens/Colliers20page.htm