Question

Explain how the nation's expansion/growth from 1790 to 1860 was reflected in printed materials.

Answer 1

Answer: The press served as one of the main tools in spreading nationalism.

Explanation:

During the American Revolution, propaganda placed through the press had a great influence on the spread of nationalism. In Europe, it was a powerful tool for emphasizing people's language as an element of nationalism. The print media replaced the weakening of the church as an institution in the New Age. They were in the hands of secular rulers who emphasized nationalist aspirations through the press. In this way, the collective national consciousness of the people was created. The press is an extremely powerful weapon in spreading nationalist aspirations. The print media technology did not invent nationalism, it is a product of state policies, but it significantly influenced the spread of these ideas.

The American War of Independence is tied to nationalism and the press. Namely, when the English wanted to increase taxes, the press all over America wrote about it. Thanks to the press, the news spread to North America with incredible speed, which led to a revolt among the people. In those years, the press spread negative news about colonial rule and emphasized creating national unity among Americans. Then various movements appeared, such as the Sons of Liberty, which spread national ideas in America through the press, and phenomena like these worried the colonial authorities. The media is still a very strong element in the spread of nationalism.