From: jennifer morrone
Date: 2/29/00
Time: 10:52:37 AM
Remote Name: 155.247.244.38
Just like new technological advances of today, new technology in early America caused some controversy. The daily gazette provides a good example of this. While some of the American people liked the new open access to political news, others feared that the mass communication would disrupt society. Early newspapers were mostly made of anonymous letters and advertisements. The language and way in which they were written seemed polished and refined. But during the 1790s they began to change. Partisan editors began taking sides between the Jeffersonians and the Federalists. They began printing personal assaults against each other, ones that are comparable to contemporary journalism. Many people felt that though they gained access to democratic information, they were losing some of the civility. The newspaper compelled them to confront the limits of their freedom. The increasing commercial press aroused the growth of American nationalism. Because of the wide coverage of domestic events, those who were scattered about could identify with distant others who shared the desire for independence. The public openly condemned political censorship, which Congress tried to impose through the Alien and Sedition Acts. When Jefferson was president he let those policies lapse. The common newspaper though sometimes seemingly objectionable, changed the character of the early political society. Inventions such as the improved cotton gin, new textile technology, and financing for new steamboat routes, were met by some disapproval. Many craftsmen wanted to hold on to the traditional ways of doing things. They liked making things on their own time, some, in their own houses. The new advancements called for factory type order and a division of labor. Specialized skills were becoming less of a demand. Instead of making a whole clock, for example, people only needed to assemble it by the piece. It greatly increased production rates but it undermined the craftsman's traditional independence. This also sometimes undermined wages. The employers could hire unskilled workers for simple tasks, replacing craftsmen. These innovations sparked tension but also a quest for technological advancement. Supporters of mechanization, such as Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Rush, felt new innovations could help improve American productivity, reduce their reliance on foreign manufactures, and promote true independence