History lesson 5

The Penny Press and the Age of Jackson

Andrew Jackson and Partisanship

• Revival of partisanship during Jackson's presidency.

• Number of newspapers increased significantly:

  • 1828: Jackson elected - 863 newspapers.

  • 1833: Jackson’s second term - 1,200 newspapers.

Major Newspaper Support

• Amos Kendall: Key supporter with his newspaper, Argus of Western America.

  • Wrote speeches for Jackson and shaped his public image as Farmer-Soldier.

Other Key Newspapers

• Francis Blair's Washington Globe:

  • Another outlet for Jackson's voice.

• Blair and Kendall were close advisors and influenced Jackson's policies.

  • Part of the informal group known as The Kitchen Cabinet.

Opposition to Jackson

Criticism and Challenges

• Viewed as dictatorial by opponents.

• Key actions included:

  • Bypassing Congress, refusal to re-charter the Bank of the U.S., promoting state banks instead.

• Rising tensions with the Whig Party as Henry Clay challenged Jackson in 1832.

The Petticoat Affair

• Centered around Peggy Eaton, wife of the Secretary of War.

  • Snubbed by society, alleged to be John Eaton’s mistress prior to marriage.

• Jackson’s involvement:

  • Stood by the Eatons, particularly after his wife's death shortly after their marriage.

• Political gossip fueled by enemies like Clay and Calhoun.

The Rise of the Anti-Jackson Press

• Example: Richmond Whig criticized Jackson’s administration.

  • Derided political appointments connected to unconventional schools of thought.

Expansion and Transportation Revolution

• Westward expansion contributed to manufacturing growth and urbanization.

• Infrastructure developments include:

  • 1825: Opening of the Erie Canal, connecting major regional waterways.

  • By 1840, 3,000 miles of railroad; by 1860, 30,000 miles.

  • Transportation improvements revolutionized trade and industrialization in America.

Economic Transformation

Erie Canal Impact

• Reduced shipping time/cost:

  • Pre-canal: 20 days and $100/ton from Buffalo to NYC.

  • Post-canal: 8 days and $20/ton.

Steam Power and Industry

• Steam engines catered to industrial demands, spurring new inventions:

  • Sewing machines introduced circa 1842.

  • Clothing production value in NYC rose from $2.5 million (1841) to $20 million (1853).

• Shift toward large-scale manufacturing to meet market demands.

Urbanization and Labor

• Manufacturing drew many young workers to cities.

• Rise in European immigration (notably from Germany and Ireland).

• Labor force statistics from 1840 to 1855:

  • 1840: Small manufacturers common (about a dozen workers).

  • 1855: Over 70% of manufacturing workforce in businesses with 25+ employees.

The Demand for News

Growth in Newspapers

• New markets created opportunities for newspapers even in rural areas.

• By 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville noted, “hardly a hamlet in America without its newspaper.”

• The press facilitated political engagement across America.

Advances in Printing Technology

Steam Driven Printing Presses

• Spurred mass circulation newspapers, reducing costs:

  • Production capacity rose from 2,000 to 4,000 papers per hour.

• Increased literacy rates supported wider newspaper readership.

The Penny Press Emerges

Launch of The New York Sun

• Founded on September 3, 1833 by Benjamin Day.

• Popular among a diverse audience; grew to a circulation of 10,000 by January 1834, reaching 30,000 by 1850.

Characteristics of The Penny Press

• Independent from political elites’ influence.

• Aimed at working-class audience following urban shifts.

• Style innovations:

  • First full-time reporters and focus on local issues.

  • Financially successful with a wide-angle view of society.

Sensationalism and Popular Stories

• The Sun’s affordable pricing (1 cent vs. 6 cents) made it accessible.

• Used sensationalism to pique interest, including crime stories.

• Example: Reports of intelligent life sightings on the Moon driven by sensational journalism.

Journalism and Societal Events

The New York Herald

• Established by James Gordon Bennett in May 1835, became very popular.

• Innovative reporting, including financial news and hiring correspondents.

Crime Reporting

• Sensationalism marked the rise of crime reporting.

• The Helen Jewett murder case highlighted sensationalist press, creating templates for modern crime reporting.

Class Tensions in Journalism

• Class warfare between the penny press and traditional press establishments (e.g., James Webb’s Courier and Enquirer).

• Helen Jewett, portrayed as a fallen woman who brought this tragedy upon herself, reflects the societal attitudes of the time toward women and their roles in society. This case underscored the biases in media representation and sparked debates about morality, gender, and the press's responsibility in shaping public perception.

• Bennett's Herald gained circulation from coverage of controversial stories, illustrating societal divides.

• Webb called the Herald "the most infamous newspaper in the city," highlighting the fierce competition among publications and the sensationalism that characterized the era.

• The New York Commercial Advertiser: A pro-business, rival publication that took a more conservative approach to news reporting, often contrasting with the sensationalism of the Herald and focusing on providing a moral perspective on events.

Panic of 1837

• Economic depression impacted the press; Bennett chronicled its severity in the Herald.

Advertising and Modern Consumer Culture

• Penny papers capitalized on advertising, helping shape modern advertising practices.

• Featured ads for medicines, jobs, etc., catering to the working class.

The Newsboy Era

• Marked the onset of the street corner newsboy as a recognizable aspect of modern journalism.

Further Reading

• For deeper exploration, refer to Reading 4: "In the Eye of the Beholder? Sensationalism in American Press News 1820-1860."

Additional Information User inputted:

• Jackson was opposed by those who saw him as dictatorial. Bypass congress

• Opposition press from the new Whig Party 1832 Henry Clay challenged Jackson's policies, particularly his approach to federal power and his use of the veto, which many perceived as an overreach of executive authority. This led to a significant political divide, with the Whig Party positioning itself as a champion of congressional authority and a critic of Jackson's perceived authoritarianism.

• Jackson knew how to use the press, was a major newspaper supporter, and wanted the press to be his vehicle to talk to the people

• That newspaper was the Argus of Western America. Jackson’s official newspaper

• Kendall wrote speeches and used the paper to build Jackson’s image.

• Another Paper Jackson used was Francis Blair’s Washington Globe, which played a crucial role in promoting his policies and defending his administration against critics.

• The Petticoat Affair was a scandal involving members of Jackson's cabinet and their wives. It highlighted the social tensions of the era and ultimately led to the resignation of several cabinet members.

• It became political gossip. Henry Clay, who hated Jackson, loved this story because it painted him negatively and gave him a political opportunity to undermine his support.

• The Richmond Whig: A newspaper that opposed Jackson and aligned with the interests of his political rivals, further fueling the controversy surrounding his administration.

• Expansion of the population, expansion of the press.

• 1825, the Erie Canal opened the west (Ohio, Western NY). By connecting the Hudson with Lake Erie, it facilitated trade and migration, significantly contributing to the economic growth of the region and solidifying the importance of waterways in American expansion. Moving people westward, you’re moving Ideas westward. The need for newspapers and rails which started to industrialize the country

• Steam power and sewing machines, between 1835 and 1860, the growth of urban cities led to increased demand for goods and services, transforming the American landscape and economy. This period also saw the rise of factories and mass production, which created jobs and altered the social fabric of communities as people began to migrate from rural areas to urban centers in search of work.

• Immigration was another big thing in particular to the Irish and Germans

• 70% of the manufacturing labor force labor force worked for companies with more than 25 employees.

• “was hardly a hamlet In America without its newspaper,” said Alexis de Tocqueville, highlighting the importance of print media in shaping public opinion and fostering a sense of community during this transformative era.

• Steam was the new energy source. The steam-driven press enabled newspapers to be produced more quickly and at a lower cost, further contributing to the spread of information and ideas across the nation.

• Also, the literacy rate was rising.

• A Prospectus is a document that outlines the objectives, methods, and potential impact of a proposed newspaper, serving as a critical tool for attracting subscribers and advertisers during this period of expanding print media.

• Two-penny rascal is a term for a cheap or low-quality publication that emerged during this time. It was often filled with sensationalized content to attract readers.