From 1776 to 1800, the United States ceased to be a fantastic dream and became a stable reality. Newspapers were increasingly the public's major source of information about people and events outside of their community. The press reflected the issues of the day. Its foremost concern was naturally the armed struggle with Britain. The press covered the conflict, providing both patriot and loyalist interpretations of the battles and personalities. Yet after the British withdrew, a host of new challenges confronted the United States, including the Articles of Confederation, Shay's Rebellion, the Bill of the Rights, the Whiskey Rebellion, slavery, women's roles, the French Revolution, the XYZ Affair, the Sedition Act, and more.Again, the press not only purveyed the facts. It became a political tool trumpeting the viewpoint of Republicans and Federalists, ushering in a new era of American journalism. Beginning with an extensive overview essay of the period, this book focuses on 26 pressing issues of the war and the early republic. Each issue is presented with an introductory essay and multiple primary documents from the newspapers of the day, which illustrate both sides of the debate. This is a perfect resource for students interested in the Revolutionary War, the birth of the new nation, and the actual opinions and words of those involved.

This is a perfect resource for students interested in the Revolutionary War, the birth of the new nation, and the actual opinions and words of those involved.

Series ForewordIntroductionChronology of EventsChapter 1: The Reality of Independence, 1776-1781Chapter 2: Wartime Morale, 1776-1781Chapter 3: The Battles of the Revolutionary War, 1776-1781Chapter 4: General George Washington, 1776-1783Chapter 5: Benedict Arnold, 1780-1781Chapter 6: The Articles of Confederation, 1777-1781Chapter 7: The Union in Crisis? 1782-1787Chapter 8: Shays's Rebellion, 1786-1787Chapter 9: Constitutional Convention, 1787Chapter 10: Ratification Struggle, 1787-1789Chapter 11: The Bill of Rights, 1787-1791Chapter 12: The Issue of the Native Americans, 1791-1797Chapter 13: The Role of Women, 1780-1798Chapter 14: Slave Revolt in Santo Domingue (Haiti), 1791-1793Chapter 15: President George Washington, 1789-1799Chapter 16: The Early Years of the French Revolution, 1789-1793Chapter 17: The Whiskey Rebellion, 1794Chapter 18: Jay's Treaty, 1795-1796Chapter 19: The Rise of the Party Press, 1797-1800Chapter 20: The French Revolution Gone Crazy, 1793-1798Chapter 21: American Neutrality, 1793Chapter 22: The Election of 1796, September-November 1796Chapter 23: The Quasi-War with France, 1797-1798Chapter 24: The XYZ Affair, 1798Chapter 25: The Sedition Act, 1798-1800Chapter 26: The Election of 1800, February 1800-March 1801Selected BibliographyIndex