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Introduction: Before the American Revolution & Freedom of the Press

Introduction: Before the American Revolution & Freedom of the Press. From Ancient Rome to “Cato’s Letters”. The Value of Communication. How would you receive important information if you could not: Use any modern technology: phones, computers, TV, or radio Use electricity or batteries.

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Introduction: Before the American Revolution & Freedom of the Press

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  1. Introduction: Before the American Revolution & Freedom of the Press From Ancient Rome to “Cato’s Letters”

  2. The Value of Communication • How would you receive important information if you could not: • Use any modern technology: phones, computers, TV, or radio • Use electricity or batteries

  3. The Value of Communication • How would you receive important information if you could not: • Acquire a newspaper • Read or write • Easily travel between communities

  4. News by Word of Mouth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueH3ihTN4OI Ancient Rome: The Senate Crier

  5. Ancient Rome actadiurna • Hand-lettered “newspaper”posted on walls of Roman Forum (59 b.c. to 222 a.d.) • Elite used personal correspondents to receive & relay information

  6. Ancient Rome actadiurna • Evidence of a fairly literate society among patricians, wealthy plebians, & some slaves • Latin & Greek

  7. Oral Tradition: • Community elders • Ministers • Minstrels

  8. Before the Printing Press • Elite & clergy employed scribes to produce handwritten books & documents • Very expensive to produce

  9. Before the Printing Press • Knowledge, education mostly limited to upper class • Majority of the common people are illiterate

  10. The Printing Press Johannes Gutenberg (1400-1467) • Inventor of movable type • Birth of mass media • Renaissance, Reformation & scientific revolution • Gutenberg Bible

  11. The Printing Press Social Changes: • Knowledge more easily shared • Popular literature • Printer-merchants gain social prestige • Print shops become gathering places

  12. The Printing Press Social Changes: • Priests interact with scholars • Scholars interact with tradesmen • Church no longer controls theological texts

  13. Press Restrictions King Henry VIII (1491-1547) • Concerned printed word could fuel rebellion • Separated from Catholic Church over divorce • Silenced press

  14. Press Restrictions King Henry VIII (1491-1547) • Agencies oversee printed material: • Stationers’ Company • Court of High Commission • Court of Star Chamber

  15. Press Restrictions British Monarchy • Queen Mary I • 1553-1558 • Queen Elizabeth I • 1558-1603 • King James I • 1603-1625

  16. Freedom of Speech? John Milton (1608-1674) • King Charles I: No pamphlets printed without a license • Authored unlicensed pamphlets

  17. Freedom of Speech? John Milton (1608-1674) • Criticized press control & Church of England • Aeropagitica, 1644 • The “self-righting principle”

  18. Freedom of Speech? Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) • English philosopher • Leviathan, 1651 • Supported rule of monarchy

  19. Freedom of Speech? Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) • Authority & control necessary for social order • State guarantees peace & order • Citizens swear obedience

  20. Freedom of Speech? John Locke (1632-1704) • English Philosopher • A ruler loses the right to rule if community needs are ignored

  21. Freedom of Speech? John Locke (1632-1704) • Government thrives under consent of governed • People have a right to rise up against tyranny

  22. Freedom of Speech? “Cato’s Letters” (1720-1723) • John Trenchard (1662-1723) • Thomas Gordon (1685-1750) • Wrote about religious & personal freedoms • Remained anonymous to avoid prosecution

  23. Freedom of Speech? “Cato’s Letters” (1720-1723) • Libel against government should be unlawful, but not against rulers • Press obligated to expose government corruption

  24. Before Freedom of the Press Conclusion & Review: • Before the printing press • Johannes Gutenberg • British monarchy press restrictions • John Milton • Thomas Hobbes • John Locke • “Cato’s Letters”

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