-
The Bay Psalm Book and Early Moments in American Printing
The first printing press was established in English America in 1636 by the Puritans. The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Metre, or The Bay Psalm Book as it's known, is the first book printed in English America. It was printed by Stephen Daye in 1640, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was slowly spread to other British colonies even though the paper shortage and high costs made the printer’s life really hard to keep aloft.
Link text -
The trial of John Peter Zenger
John Peter Zenger was the New-York Weekly Journal’s printer, the first independent newspaper that depicted William Cosby, Governor of New York of tyranny and violation of the people's rights. in 1735, Zenger was accused of "seditious libel" against Governor Cosby. His lawyer Andrew Hamilton famously argued that "the truth is a defense against libel." Zenger was found not guilty. The case inspired the cause for freedom of speech and creation of the First Amendment to the Constitution. -
“Join, or Die”
“Join, or Die” is considered the first American political cartoon, was published by Benjamin Franklin, on Pennsylvania Gazette, on May 9, 1754, in Philadelphia. Through the cartoon, by comparing with cut pieces of a snake, Franklin conveyed the danger of the fragmented American colonies facing the attacks by native Indians and the threat of French expansion, and he called upon a unified central government by all colonies in drafting “Albany Plan of Union” in 1754, in Albany, New York. -
Older than the Nation
Thomas Green proclaimed: "Of all the Arts which have been introduc'd amongst mankind ... none appear of greater Advantage than that of Printing; for hereby the greatest Genius's of all ages and Nations live and speak for the benefit of future Generations." he started the country’s oldest newspaper in continuous publication, the Connecticut Courant, During the Revolutionary War, Thomas Green described protesters confronted Jared Ingersoll, the stamp-tax collector, and forced him to resign. -
Fighting for Union and Independence, the American Revolutionary War
The message of mighty strength in union and independence advocated by Benjamin Franklin was carried on by fellow founders of this nation in the years leading to the American Revolutionary War. In 1774, in journal of The Massachusetts Spy, Paul Revere painted a female figure of Liberty in upper left symbolizing freedom and democracy, and a rattlesnake labeled "Join or Die", across the top of the masthead, representing the 13 colonies, challenging a griffin, depicted as the evil British Empire. -
Common Sense of American Independence
In 1776, Thomas Paine published the pamphlet “Common Sense,” in Philadelphia, called upon American independence from Britain.It received the tremendous success with 500000 readers in the two years. Paine argued that “Europe, and not England, is the parent country of America. This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe.” This argument unified average individuals and political leaders in different colonies. -
Sedition Act
In 1798, President John Adams signed Sedition Act. While its’ intent might be to protect the United States against the looming war with France by the Federalist-controlled Congress, it also restricted free press and speech critical of the government, and served the Federalist’s attempt to silence and weaken the opposing Democratic-Republican Party. Along with Alien Acts, it was so unpopular that the uproars against them contributed to the Democratic-Republican victory in the 1800 elections. -
United States v. Hudson & Goodwin
In 1779, Hudson & Goodwin started a new partnership at the Hartford Courant. The Courant became a Federalist’s voice. When President Thomas Jefferson took office in 1800, the Courant wedged war against him. In 1806, the paper attacked Jefferson of bribing Napoleon by shipping silver to France, and was charged of libeling the president and Congress. In the end, Hudson &Goodwin came out victoriously and the U.S. Supreme Court abolished jurisdiction over crimes defined solely by the common law.
