UNT JOUR 4820 - 1st Major Test Study Guide Flashcards
Puritans and Literacy in the Colonies and Early U.S.
Puritan Theology & Free Press
Q: How did Puritan theology influence free press and the “marketplace of ideas”?
A: Puritans emphasized individual Bible reading, fostering literacy and a culture of debate. Their belief in moral accountability encouraged free expression but within religious constraints.
Puritans vs. Catholics
Q: How did Puritans and Catholics differ in their views on literacy and press?
A: Puritans promoted widespread literacy for Bible reading, while Catholics centralized religious authority, limiting lay interpretation and press freedom.
Puritan Settlement Geography
Q: Where did Puritans settle, and why is this significant?
A: They settled in New England, where town-based communities supported literacy, printing, and open discussion, reinforcing early press traditions.
Colonial Literacy: Haves & Have-Nots
Q: Who was literate in colonial America, and who was not?
A: White male landowners had the highest literacy rates, while enslaved people, women, and rural poor had limited access to education.
The Zenger Case and U.S. Libel Law
Case Facts
Q: What were the key facts of the John Peter Zenger trial (1735)?
A: Zenger, a printer in New York, was charged with libel for publishing articles criticizing the colonial governor. His lawyer argued truth should be a defense against libel.
Legal Precedent
Q: What precedent did the Zenger case set?
A: It established that truthful statements about government officials could not be considered libel, laying groundwork for press freedom.
Meaning for Today
Q: How does the Zenger case influence modern journalism?
A: It set an early foundation for press protections under the First Amendment and the principle that truth is a defense in libel cases.
The Revolution and Press Freedom
The Stamp Act
Q: What was the Stamp Act, and how did it affect the press?
A: A 1765 British tax on printed materials that angered colonists, as it limited free expression and increased costs for newspapers.
Real Reason for the Act
Q: Why did Britain impose the Stamp Act?
A: To raise revenue from the colonies to pay for military expenses after the French and Indian War.
American Perception
Q: How did American colonists view the Stamp Act?
A: As an unjust restriction on free speech and a violation of their rights, fueling revolutionary sentiment.
Free Press - It Depends on What They Print
Q: How was press freedom treated in the colonial era?
A: While the Revolution promoted press freedom, dissenting views were often suppressed, and newspapers aligned with political factions.
The First Amendment
Arguments for and Against a Bill of Rights
Q: What were the main arguments for and against a Bill of Rights?
A: Supporters feared government overreach, while opponents believed the Constitution already limited power enough.
History of the First Amendment
Q: When and why was the First Amendment adopted?
A: Ratified in 1791 to protect freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition.
Importance of the First Amendment
Q: Why is the First Amendment crucial?
A: It guarantees fundamental democratic freedoms and limits government censorship.
Reasons for Specific 1A Terms
Q: Why does the First Amendment protect religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition?
A: These freedoms were essential for self-governance and resisting tyranny.
Contrast with the Alien & Sedition Acts
Q: How did the Alien & Sedition Acts challenge the First Amendment?
A: These laws (1798) punished government criticism, contradicting the First Amendment’s protections.
Party Influence Over the Early U.S. Press
Newspaper Party Influence
Q: How did political parties influence early U.S. newspapers?
A: Newspapers were openly partisan, acting as mouthpieces for Federalists and Democratic-Republicans.
Modern Ethics Comparison
Q: How does early press partisanship compare to today’s journalistic ethics?
A: Unlike modern ideals of objectivity, early newspapers prioritized party loyalty over balanced reporting.
The Antebellum Press
The Great Debate
Q: What was the key debate among abolitionists?
A: Whether to demand immediate emancipation or support gradual abolition.
Black Newspapers
Q: What role did Black newspapers play?
A: They advocated for abolition, civil rights, and political activism.
Lobbying Lincoln
Q: How did abolitionist journalists influence Lincoln?
A: They pressured him to issue the Emancipation Proclamation by shaping public opinion.
Famous Abolitionist Editors
Q: Who were key abolitionist publishers?
A: Frederick Douglass (The North Star) and William Lloyd Garrison (The Liberator).
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Q: Why was Uncle Tom’s Cabin important?
A: Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel fueled anti-slavery sentiment and activism.
The Fire-Eaters
Q: Who were the “fire-eaters”?
A: Southern pro-slavery extremists who used the press to advocate for secession.
The Civil War, Technology, and Journalism
North vs. South & Technology
Q: How did the North and South differ in technology use?
A: The North embraced telegraphs and steam printing; the South lagged behind in communications infrastructure.
Telegraph & Newspapers
Q: How did the telegraph change Civil War reporting?
A: It allowed real-time battlefield updates, revolutionizing war journalism.
Civil War Imagery
Q: Why was Civil War photography significant?
A: It made war’s brutality visible to the public, shaping opinions.
Thomas Morris Chester
Q: Who was Thomas Morris Chester?
A: The first Black war correspondent, reporting from Confederate Richmond.
Covering the Civil Rights Movement
Chronology of Events
Q: What were key moments in civil rights news coverage?
A: The Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955), Freedom Rides (1961), March on Washington (1963), Selma (1965).
Impact of News Coverage
Q: How did media coverage affect the Civil Rights Movement?
A: Graphic images of violence against protesters increased public support.
Journalistic Ethics
Q: What ethical dilemmas did journalists face?
A: Balancing neutrality with moral responsibility to expose injustice.
Press and Propaganda in WWI
Censorship
Q: How was the press censored during WWI?
A: The U.S. government restricted critical war reporting and dissenting views.
Propaganda
Q: How was propaganda used in WWI?
A: Governments shaped public opinion through posters, films, and press narratives.
Homogenizing the News
Q: How did WWI affect press diversity?
A: Media outlets were pressured to align with pro-war messaging.
Racial Elements
Q: How did race factor into WWI propaganda?
A: Black soldiers' contributions were downplayed, and racism shaped enlistment narratives.
Press and Discord After WWI
Post-War Struggles
Q: What major conflicts followed WWI?
A: Labor strikes, economic downturns, and racial violence (Red Summer of 1919).
Mainstream Press Coverage
Q: How did mainstream media handle post-war issues?
A: Focused on major riots but largely ignored systemic inequalities.
Wilson and the Klan
Q: What was Woodrow Wilson’s connection to the KKK?
A: He praised Birth of a Nation, which glorified the KKK, legitimizing white supremacist ideology.