Lecture Overheads, 1/22/03:

Democracy, pre-1900

1776: Declaration of Independence: “certain inalienable rights…to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”

1776: Thomas Paine, journalist: Common Sense

1778: Articles of Confederation: freedom of speech, press, religion. Voting: restricted to property owners

1783: official end of war; states engaged in many disputes over trade

1817: universal male suffrage except for slaves

1828: Andrew Jackson elected

1861 – 1865: Civil War: tensions: industrialized North, agrarian South. Republicans of North: pro-business/industry, anti-slavery

1865: 13th Amendment: prohibited slavery

1866: 14th Amendment: blacks given full citizenship

Newspapers expanded and changed during the Civil War. Why?
1. technological improvements
2. AP
3. event-oriented news

How did newspapers change as a result?
1. events orientation
2. a first: scientific observer
3. another first: audience as commodity

What was happening at the time socially, politically, and economically to foster these changes?
1. urbanization
2. leisure
3. electricity
4. literacy
5. manufacturing

Trends and changes in 1890s news reporting:
1. circulation figures
2. emphasis on sales figures
3. fueled move to cover big, sensational news
4. a first: popular culture in newspapers