page_title: History of American newspapers
section_title: Revolutionary epoch and early national era: 1770–1820
hierarchical_section_title: History of American newspapers / Revolutionary epoch and early national era: 1770–1820
caption_attribution_description: Masthead of the The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal, a newspaper founded by Isaiah Thomas in 1771 and published in Boston, Massachusetts. This is from the July 7, 1774 issue.
context_page_description: The history of American newspapers begins in the early 18th century with the publication of the first colonial newspapers. American newspapers began as modest affairs—a sideline for printers. They became a political force in the campaign for American independence. Following independence the first amendment to U.S. Constitution guaranteed freedom of the press. The U.S. Postal Service Act of 1792 provided substantial subsidies: Newspapers were delivered up to 100 miles for a penny and beyond for 1.5 cents, when first class postage ranged from six cents to a quarter.
  The American press grew rapidly during the First Party System when both parties sponsored papers to reach their loyal partisans. From the 1830s onward, the Penny press began to play a major role in American journalism. Technological advancements such as the telegraph and faster printing presses in the 1840s also helped to expand the press of the nation as it experienced rapid economic and demographic growth. Editors typically became the local party spokesman, and hard-hitting editorials were widely reprinted.
context_section_description: (This section is based on Newspapers, 1775–1860 by Frank W. Scott)
  Weekly newspapers in major cities and towns were strongholds of patriotism (although there were a few Loyalist papers). They printed many pamphlets, announcements, patriotic letters and pronouncements.  On the eve of Revolution Virginia had three separate weeklies at the same time named The Virginia Gazette—they all kept up a heavy fire against the king and his governors.
caption: Massachusetts Spy, July 7, 1774
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