| After the 1850 s,newspapers became the main means of obtaining news for American colonists.With the increasing conflict between Britain and American colonies,more and more people published articles on colonial newspapers to discuss the future of the colonies.As the owner of newspaper,the colonial printers mixed their own political views with the news to guide the political trend of colonies.In the 1765,After the movement of anti-Stamp Act,colonial printers were divided into Patriots and loyalists because of their different political and commercial interests.In series of anti-movements after 1765,patriotic printers increased their co-operation with Revolutionary groups such as the Sons of Liberty.They used newspapers to carry out anti-British propaganda,attacked the British policy and colonial British officials and called on colonists to unite and fight for their freedom and rights.With the propaganda of patriotic newspapers,the thinking of the colonial people has changed greatly,the sense of unity among the colonies has been further strengthened,and the will to fight for independence has also been strengthened.At the beginning of the War of Independence,the patriotic printers cooperated with the Revolutionary organization to set up a new postal system,which ensured the smooth operation of the wartime communication network.After the outbreak of war,patriotic printers more systematically launched war propaganda to win the support of public opinion.On the one hand,patriotic printers extolled the necessity and justice of the American colonies’ struggle for independence,and callsd on colonists to unite and overthrow the British control,to establish an independent democratic state.On the other hand,patriotic printers used the propaganda words of human nature,freedom and rights,to expose and denounce the British Army’s cruel practices about abusing prisoners and humiliating the colonized people,exposed the “Tyrannical,brutal,barbaric” side of British Army.As well as carrying out anti-British propaganda,patriotic printers attacked the colonial loyalists in newspapers.The loyal printers,who suffered economic and political blows under the strong resistance of the colonists,ended up in exile after the defeat of the British Army.It is worth noting that the political participation of colonial printers during the Revolutionary War was closely related to their economic gains and losses,they mixed their political stand and political activities with considerations of business interests.If we take a comprehensive survey to the political activities and economic life of printers during the American Revolution,we will have a better understanding of the political choices of printers in this period and recognize the role and status of patriotic printers in the American Revolution. |
