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    Analyzing the Spread of News During and After the American Revolution

    Album Description

    Analyzing the Spread of News During and After the American Revolution 

     

    After this activity, students will have a deeper understanding of the importance​ and the​ role of newspapers in spreading information throughout the Colonies during and after the American Revolution.  

    This album is connected to another entitled, ​​Newspapers in the American Revolution. They can be done separately or together.  

    ​​​Activity Length 

    40 minutes  

    Essential Questions 

    How do newspapers show the spread of information during and after the American Revolution? 

    Themes 

    American Revolution, Colonial Newspapers and the Press, Printing, Maps 

    Background 

    Resource:

    • Starting the System exhibition| National Postal Museum 
      • This online exhibition’s “Starting the System” section describes how Colonial America’s early postal system started in the 1690s, later improved greatly under the leadership of Benjamin Franklin before and during the Revolutionary War.    

    Additional Resources: 

     

    These blog posts from the Library of Congress offer secondary and primary source information about the history of printing in the world and Colonial America specifically. 

    Map of the United States, exhibiting the post-roads, the situations, connections & distances of the post-offices, stage roads, counties, ports of entry and delivery for foreign vessels, and the principal rivers

    Teaching Notes

    Teaching notes for this map are described above under the activity steps. Please also note that you can click the link to access the map on loc.gov for a version of the map that enables zooming in and more interaction.  

     

    Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/g3700.ct004513/?r=0.597,0.413,0.089,0.056,0

    Reference note

    Created / Published

    • [Philadelphia?] : Abraham Bradley, Junr., [1796]

    Genre

    • Road maps
    • Early maps

    Notes

    • -  Relief shown pictorially.
    • -  In upper left margin: Deposited as the Act directs September 26, 1796.
    • -  Wheat & Brun 1978 revised edition, 129
    • -  State III of the map, according to Wheat & Brun.
    • -  Prime meridian: Washington.
    • -  Includes chart showing "Progress of the mail on the main line".
    • -  LC copy sectioned into 32 pieces and mounted on cloth to facilitate folding.

    Repository

    • Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 20540-4650 USA dcu

    Digital Id

    Image 1 of Virginia Argus (Richmond, Va.), December 20, 1799

    Teaching Notes

    This newspaper has many details for analysis, including a business section, foreign affairs and a death announcement for George Washington; however, the foreign affairs section is the focus of this activity.  

    Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84024710/1799-12-20/ed-1/?sp=1&r=-0.124,-0.02,1.342,0.847,0

    Reference note

    Created / Published

    • Richmond, Va., December 20, 1799

    Genre

    • Newspapers

    Notes

    • -  Semiweekly
    • -  Vol. 4, no. 62 (Nov. 19, 1796)-v.23, no. 3174 (Mar. 29, 1815) ; v. 1, no. 2 [1] (Apr. 1, 1815) -v. 2, no. 61 (Oct. 19, 1816).
    • -  Publisher varies: Samuel M. Pleasants, Nov. 2, 1814-Feb. 1, 1815 ; Philip Du Val & Co., Feb. 15, 1815-Mar. 25, 1815 ; John Burke, Mar. 29, 1815-Jan. 31, 1816 ; John Burke & L.H. Girardin, Feb. 3, 1816.
    • -  Prospectus for American Standard (Richmond, Va.)--printed in Virginia Argus issue for July 29, 1811.
    • -  Issues for Nov. 19,1796- called also whole no. 373-<937>.
    • -  Whole numbering continues while issue numbering ceases, .
    • -  Supplements accompany some issues.
    • -  Available on microfilm from University Microfilms International; Microphoto Division of Bell & Howell; the Library of Virginia; and the Library of Congress, Photoduplication Service.
    • -  Archived issues are available in digital format from the Library of Congress Chronicling America online collection.
    • -  Also available online.

    Image 1 of The monitor, or, Delaware Federalist (Wilmington, Del.), August 8, 1801

    Teaching Notes

    This newspaper includes marriage announcements, foreign news, and information from the House of Representatives; however, the foreign affairs section is the focus of this activity. 

    Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84038116/1801-08-08/ed-1/?sp=1&r=0.012,-0.016,1.047,0.661,0

    Reference note

    Created / Published

    • Wilmington, Del., August 8, 1801

    Genre

    • Newspapers

    Notes

    • -  Semiweekly
    • -  Began in 1801; ceased in 1802.
    • -  Also issued on microopaque from Readex Microprint Corp.
    • -  Archived issues are available in digital format from the Library of Congress Chronicling America online collection.
    • -  Description based on: Vol. 2, no. 120 (Aug. 8, 1801).

    Activity Steps

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