It decreased due to the fact that many jobs were opening in the urban areas so people left their farms and houses in rural areas to get a job in a bigger city.
Paid media, the campaigns can pay to have whatever they want put out by any media source willing to accept their money and information.
Vicksburg was the last stronghold until the Union could have the Mississippi River. If they were to take Vicksburg, they would split the Confederacy and go along with their Anaconda Plan. They did so by starving Vicksburg to surrender.
Shortly after the bastille, a group called the Radicals came to power in France. Led by Robespierre, their goal was to abolish the French Monarchy. They were part of the National Assembly. Created a period called the Reign of Terror.